End of the Garden

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Still Breathing!

Today, Thursday February 4th, is my birthday - one of those birthdays that are termed 'a big one'. And as I rejoice at the daily miracle of still being able to breathe each morning on awakening, I decided that this is not the time to be coy and say silly things like 'I am as old as my tongue and little bit older than my teeth' when friends politely slalom away from the question of age as though none of us really wants to know how old anyone is thus giving us the opportunity to gauge how we are doing ourselves when we slyly compare skin, teeth, health, hair, vigour and shape (a very subjective statement that tells you a lot about me...). Yes, we all secretly want to have an inkling of everyone's age - go on, admit it. So today I toss into the (yes, I know, very small as not many of you read this, but thank you for doing so) arena the fact that today I celebrate surviving 65 years. Not a great age, but still breathing.

Yet I can't quite believe I've got this far, and still feeling like a spring chicken - but the woman who looks back at me in the mirror is most certainly not the one that I am expecting to see, as in this picture of me taken a few years back (not many) holding my precious doll, Mary. The current version is much more like my mother, or dare I say it, my grandmother, who both seemed as old as Methusula when I was younger... Anyway, if you follow this link, Mon-TV you can see the plumped up older model for yourself. It's a lovely little film, nice pictures, thank you, Ian Wallace, who made it.

So, do I now start knitting, give up driving, stop working - or pack my knapsack to sail the seven seas, climb Everest and go and live in a hut in the Himalayas - or move into sheltered accommodation, or book a single ticket to Switzerland, or retire to a sunny spot, maybe Spain or India or South America and chew the cud, or mangoes, in endless warmth? So many choices. Advice please.

Currently none of the above fits. For the present I have decided to carry on as I have always done: learning something new regularly - I am attending a Wild Goose Qigong course next weekend in Manchester led by Sheila. I am utterly committed to my current classes and retreats in Monmouth, Pontypool, Abergavenny, Twickenham, Stourbridge and on Holy Isle. I am hugely grateful for the ongoing education I receive from all the courageous (yes, T'ai-Chi is difficult) people who rock up to the T'ai-Chi, Qigong, meditation sessions and residential retreats. And also to those who come along for a therapeutic massage which I offer at lovely Lorraine's Relaxation & Therapy Rooms. And I plan to do more gardening, cooking, walking, dancing, sudoku, reading, Qigong, writing, MONEW newsletter editing, eating, T'ai-Chi, wine drinking, meditating, slimming, tax paying - and top of the list, nurture and value every amazing friendship that my never-boring life has blessed me with - and you know who you are!

I was recently inspired by a woman who was the teacher of Dr Hu, an excellent man, Qigong teacher and Chinese medicine practitioner, no tardis, now well into his 70s (I am guessing here, maybe someone will put me right on this). His teacher, Grandmaster Yang, Mei-jun, died when she was 106 years old. Apparently she was still teaching at 102. That's her, wielding a sword, not sure how old she was then, probably pushing a hundred years. So my aspiration is to keep going, teaching, practising and all, at least until 103 (why stop at 102?) if my genes offer this. Way to go, don't you agree? Sword in hand, yes. Memo, must buy sword.

So not for me sliding into graceful old age (or wearing too much purple) but my plan is to get out there as long as my great good health allows and celebrate each moment of this precious, precious life. And keep reminding myself to accept whatever life places into my own small begging bowl. For me the myth that we have choices is questionable: I may appear to make my own choices, but actually all I am doing is responding as skillfully as I can to the conditions that life presents to me each and every moment. Some of which are marvelous, and some challenging. Gird loins, (wield sword?) offer gratitude and carry on.

Happy birthday to all February fourthers! And to all the other Aquarians reading this who share this snowdrop time of the year to celebrate their arrival on earth.
Please, light a candle, make a cake and celebrate your own birthday today. Every day is our birthday. Raise a glass and sip precious nectar, share a plate of delicious food with a friend, be emotional, laugh, cry and have fun - and remember the words of dear Lama Samten spoken in his Tibetan-Kiwi accent:

THE MEANING OF LIFE IS TO BE HIPPY