How do you deal with aging?

Thanks so much for sharing your life and your spiritual/metaphysical beliefs. Because I too have metaphysical beliefs, I especially appreciated your "I'm certain of a beautiful afterlife filled with love and joy for everyone." Rumi's quote "Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and righdoing, THERE IS A FIELD. I'LL MEET YOU THERE" This last sentence was one of the most reassuring beliefs I've ever heard. I appreciate that more than I can express.

Love your remark about green bananas!

Love your spirit.

Getting old sux.

Whoever coined the phrase "The Golden years", had an ironic sense of humor.

If I made it to a thousand, I couldn't do everything I want to do.
At 66, more than five years after a stroke, I'm grateful for the things I've done but wish I had the mobility to do more.

I hear you.

I always loved to travel. Now, it's uncomfortable and at best bittersweet, because even when I get places I'm not able to move well enough to explore or experience very much.

Damn, I feel trapped in my body sometimes.

Yes, I can’t travel because of pudendal neuralgia. I haven’t been more than 20 miles from my home in a decade. I have only one grandchild that I’ve never met, as they live a couple states away.

Try not to waste your remaining time worrying about what time you have left. I’m not real religious (unfortunately) but I do believe in God which is my comfort that when I leave this earth surely I am going to a better life. If not, I’ll just be dead and won’t know any difference anyway. I worry about my grandkids, they are all 22 and above except the youngest 18 still
Living with us, fortunately for me, I have been a big part of their entire lives, I worry about leaving them.

I’m turning 72 next month and quite often I experience anxiety upon awakening in the morning. I had therapy for my anxiety but it never has really helped much. Most therapies today are BMT or CBT. And of course every therapist I’ve had is quite a bit younger than I am. One of the questions they ask is “have you had any thoughts about suicide?” Well no, because I’m afraid of dying and I want my life to go on as long as possible.

Ever since I turned 65 I’ve had random thoughts about the fact that I could die anytime. My health is ok; I’m on BP medication and see my MD regularly.

When I’m busy doing something I don’t think about aging and mortality, but often when I wake up in the morning I find myself feeling that anxiety again and again. And I have faced my anxiety head on and I know it’s based on the fact that my life is in the last chapters. So I wonder how do others deal with this time in their lives.

One thing that helps me is trying to make life better for living beings around me.
Our dogs need their backyard trip first thing in the morning and this gives me something very important to get up for! Then I can make a pot of coffee that my wife will be glad to find when she gets up.
My dog Hazel is a very fast learner, so we have been working with our neighbor kids, teaching them how to train a dog. This makes me very happy. I love my dog and she enjoys working with the children, and I love knowing that I've helped the kids learn something that will bring joy and wonder to their lives for decades to come.
I know I won't be around forever, but it soothes my heart when I see that some of my values will carry forward when I'm gone, maybe for a long, long time. Other people will love things that I love, so in a way my beloved world will carry on very well without me, I don't need to worry too much about it.
This is my way of letting go of anxiety about my future.
I wish for you the very best moments in finding your way.

Hello Maggie, I'm your age, and maybe it is my expectation that I will live as long as my Mom, aunts and other family members, but I don't think of my mortality much. I watched my Mom approach her last chapters, not with anxiety or fear, but with a determination not to "rust out" - I know she missed my Dad fiercely for 13 years, but she continued with faith, family and friends right to the end.

My favorite peers are those whose curiosity and drive keep them learning and exploring every day. That's not to say we don't have health issues or aches and pains - it means we choose to let other aspects of our lives take front and center.

When I was dealing with anxiety and depression due to my chronic pain, I found guided meditation brought me to a better place. Perhaps you can ask your therapist about this approach?

Is there a specific guided meditation that you found helpful?