Your time on earth is limited. Don't try to "age with grace". Age with mischief, audacity, and a great story to tell. – Author Unknown
Aging with grace isn't about giving up on challenges or accepting limitations. It's about finding new ways to thrive despite the inevitable changes life throws our way. While death may be the final destination, the journey is filled with opportunities to adapt, grow, and push as we age.
This quote doesn't mention the unique perspective of our senior years. With work and family responsibilities behind us, we are free to pursue long-held dreams and contribute to the world in meaningful ways.
A touch of mischief keeps my retirement years feeling alive. It's a way to celebrate my individuality and explore life adventurously. Years ago, I learned a valuable lesson: the status quo isn't set in stone, it's the power we give to the expectations of others. I choose to reclaim that power.
I was not content to live a life driven by others' beliefs. I had the audacious courage to challenge the social norms placed on my happiness. I challenged the status quo in my coming out by disrupting my “safe” life.
I craved authenticity that aligned with my definition of happiness. I mustered the courage to challenge myself and leave behind the limiting norms of my old life. I was empowered to write my story.
Telling my story goes beyond just writing it down. Central to my story is using my voice to challenge misconceptions and advocate for the queer community. Initially, I thought retirement meant sitting back and leaving activism to younger generations.
Witnessing the erosion of freedoms fought for by my generation and those before ignited a fire in me. Silence wasn't an option. History lives through the words, actions, and people that shaped the present. Rainbow Threads is my small contribution to a greater history of queer people.
You do not know where you’re going until you know where you came from. Through writing, I revisit the victories and struggles that shaped me. Sharing these stories is part of my life's legacy. It’s a testament to the path I walked and my impact on the world.
Each of us writes our own story. The decades of our lives are chapters in our book of life. The years are the paragraphs that bring meaning and purpose to our lives. The most resonant stories, like the most captivating books, are authentic with a dash of mischief and audacity.
Many queer people in my generation have taken living a life with grace as being complacent with what is happening around us. There's an opportunity to do more. Sharing our experiences during the fight for queer rights can be incredibly valuable for younger generations. By passing on the torch of activism with a dose of audacious mischief, we join them in building a more inclusive accepting future.
Through Rainbow Threads I created a new voice for my life. I lived authentically as a gay man through the years. Now, I continue adding to my book of life, each chapter draws strength from the past and is enriched by the stories of younger queer generations.
Every Wednesday, I select a quote from my thoughts-to-keep journal. I tune out the outside world for ten minutes to reflect and write about that tidbit of wisdom.