A number of years ago, when I reached "a certain age" I found that the mirror wasn't always a friend. I would peek at myself and on a good day, I could see the past, and on a bad day, I could see the future. That has only become more true, with fewer "good" days mixed into those mirror peeks.
As someone who always loved the change of seasons, and still does, it occurred to me today that perhaps people head for warmer, sunnier climes as they age because of a similar phenomenon. While once, the passing of seasons was exciting and exhilarating (like long-ago looks in the mirror rarely bore long-term bad news), with age each passing season seems to happen faster, like there aren't as many days in that season any more. Holding onto a single pleasant season might fool one into thinking time wasn't passing. With fewer years ahead of one than behind, rushing into the future doesn't hold the allure it once did.
That seems to me to be all the more reason to slow down. Not the slowing down of a declining body, but the slowing down of an appreciative soul. To fully take in the moment, whatever it is, rather than looking ahead to what might not turn out to be all that great anyway. Or it may be. But the point is, it isn't anything yet. Only now is now. Here. Real. Livable. Regardless of what the mirror says, now is worth living to the fullest. As a friend said a number of years ago "there are only so many summers." Very true. And only so many Springs, Falls and Winters. Each deserving their due.
