What does it feel like to grow older and older?
How do you age more joyfully?

"I think I never planned too far ahead.
I choose to live one day at a time and take one step at a time, because things can change so quickly. When you map out everything too far ahead and things don’t go according to plan, you can get easily jaded.

Instead of trying to tell yourself not to overthink, keep yourself busy with things you love doing. I spent my 60s-90s learning new things (e.g. singing, yoga, dancing). I love inviting friends over for dinner too, and I still enjoy doing all these.

As to how to age joyfully - don’t think too much about whether you are being happy or not. Growing weaker and aging with it is part of life. If you don’t want any of it, you can die earlier (humor!).
I used to fear death when I was young. But when you grow older and older, you learn to embrace each day as it comes, enjoy and play! Having the chance to grow old is a blessing too. I guess acceptance and courage come more easily when you are in the midst of what you have always feared." ~ DORA, AGE 98

REFLECTION: Are you scared of aging? Why? Is that fear robbing you of your joy and appreciation of the present moment?

你，害怕變老嗎？

面對日漸年長,你有什麼感受?
怎樣能學會在過程中感受到内心的安靜和快樂？

“說實話，我從來都不是一個計劃過多的人。
或者有人會說我太簡單，但這樣讓我能活在當下，一步一步地向前走。事情可以變化得如此快 - 當你對太遠的未來作出全盤規劃，在事與願違時會感到沮喪和挫敗。
與其告訴自己不要過多地思考，不如把精神集中在你熱愛的事物上。我在60至90歲的時候學習了許多新事物(比如唱歌、瑜珈、跳舞)，也很喜歡邀請友人到家裏吃飯。至今，我仍然樂在其中。

你問我 - 如何快樂的經歷變老?
我想說的是 - 不要用太多的時間去思考自己是否快樂。隨著歲月的流逝，人就是會變老，身體各方面也會變得衰弱，這都是生活的一部份呀。如果你不願意接受這一切，你可以選擇更早離世(哈哈，開玩笑!)。
我年輕時曾經也很害怕死亡，但當你真的老了，你會自然地去擁抱每一天，去享受每一次能笑能吃能見親友的機會。你會發現有機會變老也是一種福氣。
或許當你置身於自己曾經最害怕的事情之中時，你會發現接受和勇氣來得比想像中直接。”

~ DORA, AGE 98

想一想：你害怕變老嗎？有哪些方面特別讓你擔憂？這種恐懼是否掩蓋了你當下的快樂？