janeaddams,
What a great post! Every word resonated with me.
I am one of those therapists and about a third of my practice is Boomers. I think they appreciate having a 71 year old listening to their concerns.
Moods will darken, as you said, and that’s just part of it.
When I complain about back pain or feeling neglected by one of our kids, my husband will sing the “Circle of Life” song from The Lion King. He continues to think that this is funny.
I am not religious and will not say that I’m spiritual,
either. Years ago, at my first husband’s memorial service, the rabbi opened the eulogy by saying,”Everything that lives, dies.” This had a profound effect on me. In that moment, I felt at one with every living thing. Friends, my dog, trees, birds, fungi - everything.
This has really sustained me.