Do not make your life a parody of itself.

In her weekly blog, “The Marginalian by Maria Popova” talked about growing older and I thought about what she said and crafted some ideas on an answer:

How can we, as we grow older not make life a parody of itself if we believe that life is largely a matter of how we hold ourselves — our hearts, our fears, our forgiveness — along the procession of the years?

As we grow older, it's natural to contemplate the meaning and purpose of life and how to avoid it becoming a parody of itself. If we believe that life is largely influenced by how we hold ourselves—our hearts, fears, and capacity for forgiveness—along the journey of the years, there are several principles we can consider making the most of our lives:

Developing our self-awareness allows us to understand our strengths, weaknesses, values, and aspirations. It enables us to make conscious choices and align our actions with our true selves.

Continuously seek opportunities for personal growth and learning. Engage in activities that challenge you intellectually, emotionally, or spiritually. This pursuit keeps life vibrant and prevents stagnation.

Nurture deep connections with family, friends, and community. Surrounding yourself with positive and supportive individuals adds richness to your life and provides a sense of belonging.

Identify your passions and find ways to incorporate them into your daily life. Engaging in activities that bring you joy, and fulfillment gives a sense of purpose and helps counteract the monotony that can arise with age.

Approach life with curiosity and open-mindedness. Embrace new experiences, ideas, and perspectives. It keeps the mind active, encourages personal growth, and prevents life from becoming predictable.

Cultivate an attitude of gratitude by acknowledging and appreciating the present moment and the blessings in your life. Mindfulness allows you to fully experience each day, savouring the simple pleasures and finding beauty in the ordinary.

Life is full of transitions and unexpected events. Embracing change and maintaining flexibility in your thinking and approach can help you navigate challenges and find new opportunities.

Prioritize your physical, mental, and emotional health. Regular exercise, healthy eating, adequate sleep, and managing stress contribute to overall well-being, enabling you to enjoy life to the fullest.

Be true to yourself and live according to your values and beliefs. Avoid comparing your journey to others and resist societal pressures that may lead you astray from your authentic path.

You can lighten the weight of life's challenges and inject joy into everyday moments. Cultivate a sense of humour and learn to laugh at yourself and the absurdities of life.

Remember, these are guiding principles to help you shape your unique journey. Life is a continuous process of self-discovery, and by holding yourself with an open heart, facing your fears, and practicing forgiveness, you can find meaning and fulfillment as you grow older, and life will not be a parody of itself.

To end with a quote from Simone de Beauvoir

There is only one solution if old age is not to be an absurd parody of our former life, and that is to go on pursuing ends that give our existence a meaning — devotion to individuals, to groups or to causes, social, political, intellectual or creative work… In old age, we should wish still to have passions strong enough to prevent us turning in on ourselves. One’s life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation, compassion.