Living Long or Simply Growing Old

Or as Spock said, “Live Long and Prosper”

I thought about this as I dozed in my garden the other day. Which do I prefer? Living long sounds much more participatory than growing old, which sounds like a degenerative activity we have no part in or control over.

“Live long and prosper,” Spock would say when leaving an acquaintance or friend, and for the first time, I gave this some real thinking time.

Living long sounds so purposeful and acknowledges our accumulation of knowledge and experience. It’s living and evolving. In this way, we remember that we’re STILL full of curiosity, creativity, purpose, and connection. As an older woman, I can choose vitality even as my body changes and perhaps slows.

Living long is about HOW we age. We can live long, live deeply, wisely, and wildly! Thinking about living long is a choice! Growing old is by default. And we definitely want to make that distinction!

Yes, aging often includes losing some momentum at some point, such as physically, and sometimes mentally. It’s coming full circle—when we began as babies without physical control or any ability to communicate. But I believe that we can make this time one of thriving. We’ve learned so much!

What about the word Prosper? I love this word. It’s not only about having wealth and accumulating things; it’s about the blessings we create in our lives through loving and letting go and staying present. It’s about living with purpose in our souls.

And so, I offer you this blessing, “Live Long and Prosper,” my friends.