Take your eyes and hands off your device (after you read this mini paragraph of course), close your eyes, and just sit there for 30 seconds, just breathing. Here’s an image to help:
I’ll wait……go ahead……no really………………….
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WOOOOOO that felt good didn’t it?! AND a bit odd, perhaps? As much as I’d like to charge you $5 for that yoga meditation I just guided you through, sadly, I cannot. ;o) However, I did want to show you how in today’s society, in can just feel a little weird just to sit for a minute and be still. At least, it is for me.
Perhaps because this feels more like your typical day-to-day:
Your kid is having a tantrum and the school bus is coming and then there’s a traffic jam when you’re late for your meeting and you gotta get this report done and your computer is freezing……. aaaaahhhh sooo many things to doooooooo!!
Don’t feel bad though. Most of us are “go go go.” Because, well,
(‘Scuse my cursing).
But really, I get it. We all have so many responsibilities and life goals to achieve. But, there is a huge benefit to taking time to stop and smell the roses, appreciate what we have, and just be. Most of us know this….hence why the “trend” of yoga and meditation has become much more than a passing phase.
But it’s just hard for us to commit to being still and taking time away from it all (and yes, that includes our iphones— Hubby, I’m talking to you!)
This chillax lifestyle seems to come easier to Mr. Gray though. I know what you’re thinking… HE’S RETIRED. FREE TIME IS IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND. While that’s true, that’s not really what I mean. Mr. Gray takes the time to enjoy the little things- the quiet in-between moments. And that’s a choice. A choice, I argue, made due to a lifelong wisdom of what truly matters.
We’ve all seen seniors walking around their gardens picking out an occasional weed, going for an evening stroll on the sidewalk, taking the time to chat with a passerby or admire a child.
Don’t know about you but I ENVY THAT LYYYFE. It’s the don’t sweat but enjoy the small stuff, the relationships matter, the let’s enjoy the view kinda attitude. And isn’t that deep down what most of us want out of life? Appreciation and enjoyment. I mean, Mr. Gray has got the gangsta life down if you ask me. Speaking of gangsta, check out this Mr. Gray…straight chillin’…
Mr. Gray is chillin’ like a villain. He’s not concerned what passersby think of him with his leg out slouched down in his seat. NOPE. He’s just enjoying the warm weather and the R&R. It’s simple. Too simple for most of us, but he really has it all figured out (I think)…
Go Go Go is not always Good Good Good. Mr. Gray has undoubtedly learned this and is an example to the rest of us when we see it. He may have more time than we do, sure, but even the busiest people have even a few moments if they choose to take the time. So as we’re flying by Mr. Gray, thinking augh he’s moving so slowly down the grocery aisle, perhaps it’s not always that he can’t walk faster—perhaps he’s choosing to walk through life with more intention and taking the time to honor every. single. moment.
You know what they say about the tortoise and the hare? Slow and steady wins the race!! But is it just because he gets to the finish line first? Perhaps, but we do know he definitely enjoys the race more.
Forget male vs. female, Republican vs. Democrat, brunettes vs. blondes, Team T-Swift vs. Team Katy Perry, pro-Tom Brady vs. anti-Tom Brady……..the only distinction that truly matters is………
No greater truth has ever been spoken (or blogged).
So, which is it? Are you a big cheesin’ throw the curtains back, whistling in the morning (shoutout to my brother-in-law who actually does this), it’s Tony the Tiger GGGGGGGGGRRREEEAAT to be alive person? OR do you hit snooze 23.5 times (minimum) and envision a tidal wave breaking over the grinnin’ face of your “morning person” partner?
Which am I? Awwwwww, why thank you for asking! I’m flattered you care so much.
The honest answer is I’m kinda in the middle. WHAT?!?! I know, that’s totally cheating and goes against the entire premise of this argument. But, it’s true. Since I was a bright-eyed bushy-tailed child, I’ve always been smiley and ready to seize the day and never needed coffee or a battle with my alarm clock…buuuuuuuut lately that’s been shifting to:
So, as I’m trying to sort through my true morning identity, we’ll continue with the whole “Love of Gray” thang….
Let’s say 50% of people are admittedly like this:
The downside is, you might be labeled as a morning grump. The upside is, people get it and recognize that after a cup of morning Joe, you emerge into the “normal”, kind, civilized person that you are for the rest of the day.
Well, Mr. Gray (yeah I didn’t forget about him), however, doesn’t always get that pass in life. You guys have seen of or at least heard of the film “Grumpy Old Men.” Right? So you know the deal. I mean I can think of plenty of terms I’ve heard:
“Grumpy Old Man” (That’s a classic).
“Old Hag” (ouch!)
“Curmudgeon” (had to spellcheck that one)
“Cranky Old Lady”
The list goes on, but you get the stereotype. And there is some truth to it. Mr. Gray can be GRUMPS. But the question is, Why? and Why doesn’t he get a pass like our dear morning grumps? Well, let’s explore…
I’ve been reading this recent best seller called “A Man Called Ove.” You guessed it! It’s about a man called Ove— or for our purposes, Mr. Gray— who acts like, well, an “A-hole” to everyone. He’s the type who complains about everything, doesn’t cut anyone slack, and basically acts like he can’t stand anyone around him. We’ve all met a Mr. Gray like this, right? (Sometimes it’s even our not-so-fav great aunt ;o)). Well, what you find out as you read, is that he is grieving the loss of his wife, his career, is extremely lonely, and feels like he’s lost his purpose in life– so he focuses on nitpicking on everything around him. Throughout the book, you began to see and understand his humanity and the reason why he acts the way he does…and he slowly becomes love-able.
This issue in life is, we can’t see into the experience, the pain, and essentially the inner thoughts of those grumpy Grays— so it’s easy to just go- WHAT A NASTY OLD MAN (OR LADY). When in reality, they may be….BUUUUTT I argue people are so much more forgiving of “bad behavior” once they understand the why. Agreed? OK, so here’s the WHY for Mr. Gray:
1. Loneliness (may have NO family or friends left to love him)
2. Loss of independence, function, and purpose (no longer working, may be frail, and have no feeling of contributing to society)
3. Health issues (hard to act happy when you feel your body and mind are failing)
*Sad Face*
Add to that the fact that Mr. Gray is probably being forced to drink Ensure (I’ll leave my opinions on this joke-of-a-nutritious drink for another day) and rubbery chicken…… WHO WOULDN’T BE GRUMPY PANTS?!! Come on, I mean, my DVR keeps freezing and I’m like “don’t talk to meeeeeeeeee.”
So, while seniors can be a grumpy bunch, there’s usually a darn tootin’ good reason (far better than I just don’t like mornings if you ask me). I challenge you all to look beyond the scratchy surface and cut Mr. Gray some slack if he’s a bit sassypants! One day you might hope for the same…….
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