Periodically, on Poetry Pop, you will see a Zen Pop blog post. These posts are my way of sharing on a personal level and giving you a bit of poetic encouragement while traversing this beautiful (and often challenging) thing we call life.

Today is my 62nd birthday and I find myself waxing philosophical about aging. With every challenge I face, I am reminded of my resilience and the importance of pursuing my passions, whether it’s traveling to new places, exploring creative endeavors, or deepening my connections with loved ones.

The wisdom gained through these years fuels my ambition, and I am excited to embrace the adventures that lie ahead, knowing not everyone has the privilege of growing older. I look forward to celebrating not just my birthday, but the countless possibilities that await me in the next chapters of my life.

Recently, I saw a YouTube video of a 104-year-old woman, Dr. Gladys, giving life advice that deeply resonated with me. Dr. Gladys believes that surviving life’s myriad challenges stems from having a strong sense of purpose and maintaining a positive outlook. She passionately emphasizes the importance of resilience and the power of hope, reminding us that our mindset can greatly influence our experiences. “If you look for the darkness, you’ll find it,” she wisely states:

Today I am sharing a birthday poem I wrote and posted a few years back. It's a simple acrostic poem, where the first letters of each line spell out a word when reading down the page (BIRTHDAY). I still feel the same way about birthdays, but I'm happy to be alive and aging with a sense of humor :).


A BIRTHDAY ACROSTIC

Birthdays creep around every year like organized thieves
Intent on stealing our hair, our height, our youth.
Reaching out to us, they masquerade as friends.
Throwing confetti to distract us, they get us
High on sugar then rob us blind.
Dutifully, they leave gifts of wisdom and confidence.
And they nudge us with little reminders to be grateful.
Yes, grateful—that they are still coming around— with cake.

©Danna Smith at poetrypop.com all rights reserved

8 “ZEN POP” ways to age positively

1. Embrace the “Wrinkles are Laugh Lines” Philosophy: Forget the frown lines, those are “wisdom wrinkles” I like to think of them as “age-art!” Rock them with pride. This is something I am slowing coming to terms with. I am learning that when grace and humor is joined with wrinkles, it is a beautiful thing!

2. Become a Master of the “Selective Memory” Technique: Remember the good times, the hilarious adventures, and the epic dance moves. Forget the rest (Especially the last time you tried to work that technology thingamajigger.)

3. Cultivate the Art of “Graceful Grumbling”: “I may need a bigger font, but I still have the best stories.”

4. Become a “Professional Napper”: Power naps are the new power lunch. Embrace the afternoon siesta and wake up refreshed and ready to conquer the world (or at least dinner with a good friend).

5. Indulge in Your Inner Child: Play with your grandkids, visit the zoo, go ice skating (even if you just cheer from the sidelines with pom-poms), and rediscover the joy of pure silliness.

6. Cultivate a “Forgetfulness is Freedom” Mindset: I practice this daily :). There is something freeing in not remembering every little niggling thing. It’s not all bad, it makes room for the most important stuff.

7. Master the Art of “Selective Hearing”: Ignore the unsolicited advice and focus on the sweet sounds of birdsong, laughter, and maybe even a poem reading or two.

8. Remember that Age is Just a Number (That you’ve graced the world with your Presence): Embrace the journey, savor the moments, and never stop having fun!

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