I have not withdrawn into despair, I did not go mad in gathering honey, I did not go mad, I did not go mad, I did not go mad. – Hoda Al-Namai
Thinking a lot about how our society views getting older lately.
I’ve never had a huge concept of “age”, but I experience the unhealthy concept we have of getting olderin our culture of age-obsessed thinking.
It’s everywhere we look.
It’s in Hollywood, in politics, in social media.
We think we should look 18 when we’re 80. Or at least, 25 when we are 50 and “youth culture” tells us that we are no longer valid.
Topically, in my experience, (and quantum theory backs this up) the degree that we age is very much based upon the degree that we accept what society tells us is true about age.
I’ve been told that I look significantly younger than I am my entire adult life. Part of this is because I believe my body is my temple, and I care for it well, but beyond that, I just don’t think about what I am. “supposed to” look, feel, or be like at any given age.
I haven’t quite cracked the code on not aging at all; skin cells still break down, and the rate at which they replicate may not be the same at 50 as it is at 15, but our mindset can hugely influence just how rapidly our aging markers shorten.
From every other perspective beyond what we are told about our held value, getting older is an incredible experience.
Because I have lived many years here on earth,I’ve had ample time and opportunity to learn, to grow, and to
examine the doctrines and dogma that I was brought up with.
I’ve had years to recognize, acknowledge, and fall in love with those previously lost parts of myself that I had disconnected from out of shame, or guilt, or fear.
I have had decades to sift through and discard any previous belief systems that do not serve my best, my most true, and highest self.
Because of my years of experience; the joys and the losses, the challenges and the triumphs, the grief, and the bliss, I am so much more settled into the gorgeous, full and authentic human, be-ing than I ever have before.
I can feel the strength of my foundation; something I certainly did not have in my teens, 20s, or even my 30s.
I feel completely safe in exploring alternate ideas and ideologies from what I have learned to date.
In fact, I have come to realize that this is the best way to keep growing – and having the stable foundation of what feels true to me keeps my value system intact while I approach new things with curiosity.
I have learned that my value is not in the constant need to be validated by others.
I don’t have to “Do” to prove my worth. I love who I am, exactly as I am.
For that matter, I don’t have to prove my worth to anyone, and I don’t have to stay in a room where my care and value is not recognized or appreciated.
I am not in any way saying I am close to whatever “perfect” is supposed to be, and being a little more aware doesn’t mean that I don’t make mistakes.
But rather than judging or shaming myself, I have learned to take a step back, acknowledge the “mistake“ or misaligned behavior, and then look for the root of that sabotaging behavior.
When I was actively teaching martial arts, one of my favorite things was those moments when one of my advanced students would get a good strike in on me in the sparring ring.
It didn’t happen often, but when it did, I would always get a little thrill, because that little “zing” would show me an area of weakness that I may not have recognized otherwise.
I’ve taken that lesson into every aspect of my life.
We humans are such beautifully complex creatures, and our past can influence our presence, but one of the most powerful lessons that I have learned is that it doesn’t have to be our identity.
Like that kick to the gut, or punch to the jaw, (geared up, ofc) I may have an area in my psyche that I’m not paying attention to, or have a link to a past identity or egoic construct that I didn’t previously recognize.
I can acknowledge the trauma, the challenges, the losses, and the accompanying patterns that grew as a result of those past experiences – but I get to decide the meaning – and how I frame – the emotions and residual vibration of those life experiences.
I can allow the energy that lies behind me to be anchors that keep me tied to the past, or I can embrace them as lessons that provide ammunition for future growth and evolution.
Perhaps the only real “truth” that I know for certain is that when I’m in the present moment, the past is no longer real.
With each turn around the sun this physical and spiritual embodiment of my Self takes, I have become more deeply attuned to the world and other souls around me; able to “see” what keeps people stuck, but I have also lost any sense of judgment over where people are at in their personal journey.
I love it when my experience and ability to heal or empower can be a catalyst for healing or growth in others, but my years of living this life have taught me that I don’t need to be a “savior” to those around me.
I may be able to guide another soul who is ready along the path a bit; the reason I got trained in and and started my healing “business“, but I have learned that it has never been my place to try to change any other soul who doesn’t want to change, no matter how “good” I may have thought my intentions to be.
I have also learned that the law of equal exchange is both real and valid. I used to give my services away for free, or ask very little in exchange for my lifetime of experience in empowering, healing, and coaching others – then be hurt when the teaching or training I had given away was neither valued or implemented.
I have come to realize that if someone truly wants the help that I can provide, the equal exchange of energetic currency is incredibly important, and devaluing myself also devaluates their experience.
When I was very young, I had a bit of a “Cinderella” complex.
Because of the lens that we are taught through fantasy and fairytale, I associated my childhood trauma with the idea of some prints or Savior who would sweep in to save the day, making all of my dreams come true, and fulfilling my every heart’s desire.
In gaining both years and experience on this earth, I have realized that there is no fairytale hero who will save me. I have to be the hero of my own life, as we all do.
I believe this is the primary lesson of this existence, here on earth.
If we learn to love and heal ourselves, and in doing so, experience firsthand our incredible power and ability to shape our individual reality, the magnetic resonance of that love, healing and self-creation is projected into the Field, and may provide the spark for someone else to find wholeness, too.✨
This is how we save the world. This is how we heal our planet; one beautiful soul awakening to their incredible value, beauty, and power, becoming a ripple that spreads into the ocean of this reality.
We are the new Christs, creating heaven on earth.
This is the importance, and immeasurable value of each additional year we spend on this planet, in this time space reality.
So darling, the next time you look in the mirror and see the physical evidence of your time here, celebrate that shit.
Own your age, in your completely unique perspective.
Trash whatever opinions someone else tries to force down your throat in what you or your life is supposed to look like at any given age.
Wear the flowers, or the stripes, the sparkles or the tie-dye, or whatever suits you, Boo.
Keep your hair long, or rock a mohawk.
Follow your bliss. Follow your heart. Listen to the whispers of your soul.
Love yourself, and recognize your incredible contribution and value on this planet.
Be gorgeously, gratefully, fully what you are.
But please, beloved, for the love of All That Is, stop thinking that your value ends at whatever perceived age your culture or society may tell you is valid. Let go of old and outdated identities that no longer serve your highest self.
Cast them off like an old coat that is three sizes too small and horribly outdated.
Step into the glorious version of yourself, as you are, right now.
It’s more than enough, I promise.
Big love.💖
- Terah
This Blessed Sacred Life 