Brian’s Reflection: Monday, February 4, 2008


Aging is not lost youth but a new
stage of opportunity and strength.

- Betty Friedan, feisty and smart woman, born
and died on this day, 1921 & 2006, age 85



Every day of aging is! That’s what it’s all about. We can either coast along, picking up a thing here or there, or we can make as many days as possible a “stage of opportunity and strength”. Oh, no doubt that no matter how good our intentions are, there will always be those gaps. God knows there simply are just lapses, intentional or not. But we need to hear voices like Betty’s resounding in our ears as often as possible.

A lot of “religion”, of the Life of Faith, or, hell, just being alive and aware as a human being that says, Today is all you really know you have; pay attention and Live It! It’s pretty intense if we do, which is why times of “wilderness” are necessary. Friends and I just saw the movie “The Bucket List” tonight. I really didn’t want to see it; I thought it would be sappy. But I should have known that with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, it wouldn’t be. And it wasn’t. Good to be reminded that if we do get towards the “end” and have been trapped, there is still an opportunity to make a stab at it! (Though, if it involves world travel and high living, having pots of cash does help!)

Youth, as someone once said, is wasted on the young. Think of all we older folk know and have experienced! Every day is exponentially a possible new stage for opportunity and growth. Betty did it and so can we all.

A lift of the glass to Betty Friedan.

Brian+