The Let Go – Personal Musings: Charisse Glenn
The key to aging is to not mourn what’s lost but to celebrate what remains.
~Marc Middleton
I recently heard a speaker encouraging people to fight against ageism, and if asked: to “Lie about their age,” “Hide growing older at all costs.” Blaming ageism for the fact we are aging is ridiculous.
Cycles Of Nature:
Unwarranted fear arises because we are indoctrinated with the projections of others. We live in a youth-centric and consumer-driven culture, with advertising that targets young people. So, as we age, we are brainwashed that youth holds the power. We are bombarded with anti-aging products that will help us cope, keeping the inevitable signs of growing old at bay.
“My guidance on aging has come from observing nature.”
Yet, the natural world never makes excuses for continuously changing, growing, and transforming. Unfortunately, since many live an urban existence where they are not exposed to the cycles of nature, they have become shielded from the natural process of birth, aging, and death.
My guidance on aging has come from observing nature. When I stopped fighting the idea that I need to hold on to my youth, I discovered something precious and refreshing about growing older. My confidence has risen, my inhibitions lessened, and the peace within myself has grown. By doing so, an acceptance of being in the now developed and with that comes an expansion of possibilities.
Opinions are everywhere, and we are all entitled to our own including the speaker I referenced above. However, Deepak Chopra has a perspective that makes sense to me.
Turn Aging From A Negative To A Positive:
“To turn aging from a negative to a positive process seems impossible in the current medical context. But pause for a moment and place all your beliefs about what aging is to one side.”
“For centuries in the Vedic tradition of India, aging has been viewed as a mistake, and the mistake isn’t made at the level of genes, cells, tissues, or organs. Instead, the mistake is made at the control center of life, consciousness. In effect, aging is a shared illusion that everyone falls for, and once you are taken in, you have no choice but to age, simply because everyone else is.”
“Our wisdom is cumulative; it is why in many cultures, the old and grey are revered.”
He goes on to explain.
“To break free of the illusion, we can start with a single sentence in the annals of Yoga: “Time is the consumer, and we are its food.” That’s a startling image, no doubt, but it is also the best starting point. The ravages of time diminish mind and body, which is why aging is so feared. But an escape route opens up when you see that time isn’t the enemy. The enemy is mind-made. In our minds, we make ourselves the prisoner of time instead of choosing to be timeless.”
Exploration Of Our Inner Life:
In America, we have an “aging problem.” Through conscious aging, we can halt this. Our wisdom is cumulative; it is why in many cultures, the old and grey are revered. Aging is the time for nurturing and exploration of our inner life.
Once we allow ourselves the privilege to age and let go of the “I wish I were younger” phase, we can open our lives to new adventures and experiences that await us. All it takes is a mindset adjustment to turn aging from a negative to a positive, not allowing a preconceived idea of obsolescence to define us.
Here Gere, Mirren, Hutton, Fonda, and Reeves Turn Aging from a Negative to a Positive:
Richard Gere:
”I am old, and I am forever young at heart. We are always the same age inside. Know that you are a perfect age. Each year is unique and precious; you can only live once. Do not regret growing older; it is a privilege denied to many. None of us are leaving here alive, so please stop treating yourself like an afterthought. Eat the delicious food, and walk in the sunshine. Jump in the ocean and tell the truth that you carry like a hidden treasure in your heart. Be silly, be kind, be weird. There’s no time for anything else.”
“I’m younger than I once was. Internally. Less self-conscious. Less insecure.”
“I’m presenting myself to the world, I’m enjoying the world around me”
Helen Mirren:
“Beautiful people are a wonder to behold. But most of us are not beautiful. We have other stuff, which is just as powerful as beauty. And I would like to see us celebrate those things.” I love the word swagger because I think swagger means I’m confident in myself, I’m presenting myself to the world, I’m enjoying the world around me; I think what is called the beauty industry should be called the swagger industry.”
Mirren is “very against” the word “anti-aging” because “it happens,” and “there’s nothing anyone can do.” “It’s a part of the human condition,” “So to talk about ‘anti-aging’ is like saying ‘anti-human,’ ‘anti-real,’ ‘anti-wisdom,’ ‘anti-experience,’ and so on, you know?”
Lauren Hutton:
“As we age, women can be good-looking and vibrant in every way,” “Certainly don’t give up sex because that’s just silly.”
“I guess the most important thing to say about maintaining a vitality and a brain and an alertness and wanting to love life is, especially in these scary times, is holding on to what you loved when you were a kid.”
Jane Fonda:
Reminds us that you’re only as old as you feel.
“I’m super-conscious that I’m closer to death,” “And it doesn’t bother me that much. What bothers me is that my body is, you know, basically not mine! My knees are not mine; my hips are not mine; my shoulder’s not mine.”
“Life, he says, reminds him of the turning wheel of an old audio tape.”
“The fact that I’m still alive and working, wow, who cares if I don’t have my old joints,” “You know, you can be old at 60, and you can be young at 85. Health!”
Keanu Reeves:
Life, he says, reminds him of the turning wheel of an old audio tape.
“In the beginning, the tape is complete, so it appears to move slowly. But as it runs out and there’s not much tape left, it seems to spin much faster. He says. “I just wants to get as much done as possible before the reel runs out.”
In our minds, we make ourselves the prisoner of time instead of choosing to be timeless.
~Deepak Chopra
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About the Author:
Charisse Glenn, Casting Director, Equestrian, and Creator of The Let Go. She is 62, gray, aging gracefully and has lots to say. Charisse is half Japanese and has the wisdom of that culture she was born into. She has been a casting director for commercials in Los Angeles for 35 years and is an equestrian having competed in 100-mile horse races around the world.
The initiative she writes, called The Let Go serves as a reminder to let go of all that no longer works in our lives, opening a pathway to happiness, love, and balance. Proudly she embraces the freedoms age provides serving as a role model to both men and women. She is a badass with a beautiful soft touch. You can find her on either her website , or follow her on The Let Go in Instagram.
