Required Reading: Letter 12: On Old Age
“Let us cherish and love old age; for it is full of pleasure if one knows how to use it.”
In his twelveth letter to Lucilius, Senca spoke concerning two things: Old Age and Death. I am in my forty’s as I write this; forty-four to be exact; and if one were to form an opinion, one would say “well, you are far from old age, so what sage advice can you render to those of us in our sunset?” In my defense, I’ll take my stance with Pacuvius and can gladly say “I have lived!”; for I have over the years settle my accounts and have made a great step forward satisfying the thought that if the gods should call me yonder, I will gladly make my exit. Yet, like you it is not the primary focus; so I journey on.
Take a deep hard look at your life and see how Time is such an illusion; how seldom does it stop to have us take a break and see exactly what it is up to! Why is it in such a flow like clockwork—second, minute, hours, days, weeks, months, years; a lifetime! I have slowly forgotten my childhood; how fleeting was that time? Did you say adolescence? A hare that was; my twenties? Came and went! Thirties? Self reflection; and now forty’s…? How about you? What happened to Time?
Like a seed we are made to be sown, ripen, wither then fade; old age is in that stage of withering; wherein, if one counts their blessings, he or she would reckon that although it has not been easy, it has been worth it! For as the thinker said “Fruits are most welcome when almost over…” For “Life is most delightful when it is on the downward slope, but has not reached the abrupt decline.”
Old age has pleasures the young and middle age has no concept of enjoying; I look to it with eager expectation; knowing that I would be classed with those who have their best years ahead of them; knowing that they are so close to make one more curtain call towards the exit! For I will be among those who can earnestly say “that man is happiest and is secure in his own possession of himself, who can await the morrow without apprehension.” Farewell.
Word of the day:
Constraint (noun): restriction; self-control (The Oxford American Desk and Dictionary Thesaurus 2nd Edition).
Quotations:
“Wherever I turn, I see evidences of my advancing years.”
“Death, however, should be looked in the face by young and old alike.”
“One day is equal to every day.” -Heraclitus.
“Hence, every day ought to be regulated as if it closed the series, as if it rounded out and completed our existence.”
“…let us go to our sleep with joy and gladness; let us say” I have lived; the course which fortune set for me is finished.” -Pacuvius.
“When a man has said: “I have lived!”, every morning he arises he receives a bonus.”
“It is wrong to live under constraint; but no man is constrained to live under constraint.” -Epicurus.
Questions:
1) How old are you?
2) Do you know what stage of life you are in?
3) Are you excited about old age?
4) What do you plan on doing in your old age?
Activity:
1) Arrange your life in seven year intervals: 0-7; 7-14; 14-21; 21-28; 28-35; 35-42; 42-49; 49-56 etc.
2) Can you write out in details what you remember about your life during these segments? The highs and lows etc.
3) Write out a detailed plan of what you are doing or will be doing in your old age; do these things in Joy.
