Give yourself permission to allow this moment to be exactly as it is, and
allow yourself to be exactly as you are.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn,
mindfulness expert
Denial — even resistance — to getting older is a natural impulse.
But what if we embraced it instead of pushing it away?
Pushing away aging makes good sense; why not stay healthy and fit as long
as possible? The difficulty in doing that is a seeming glitch in our design
that reveals the essential challenge of being human. Eventually, knees
and hearts give out, eyes and sex drive weaken, the broad mind and the
narrow hips exchange places. We look in the mirror, half expecting to
see our 20-year-old selves looking back at us, and notice a spot here,
a sag there, lines everywhere. One minute we are striving and on top of
our game, the next moment we are in a doctor’s office, waiting for
a variety of invasive procedures to keep us around a little bit longer.
And, even if we do manage to slow down the effects of aging, mortality
is always right around the corner.
The human experience of aging is interwoven with vulnerability. And what
if it’s OK to be vulnerable? What if wisdom and connection, depth
and richness all come from the realization of impermanence? You don’t
have to pretend the sensations of aging are comfortable, or pleasant,
or wanted. But what you can do is be present as it all bubbles up.
And just maybe, if we can find a way to stay present we might be surprised
to discover that being older than we were yesterday is part of being alive.
Enjoy the changes of life, the new discoveries that come with every breath.
FULL COMMITMENT
“Mindfulness practice means that we commit fully in each moment to
be present; inviting ourselves to interface with this moment in full awareness,
with the intention to embody as best we can an orientation of calmness,
mindfulness and equanimity right here and right now.” – Jon
Kabat-Zinn
The new Calcagnini Center for Mindfulness at Jupiter Medical Center is
a beautiful, soothing space overlooking the Jacqueline Fiske Healing Garden
designed to teach people to be more mindful and to manage the tension
of everyday life.
The ongoing practice of mindfulness helps by lowering stress levels that
are often a contributing factor to “dis-ease.” In addition,
those who practice this discipline can achieve an enhanced sense of balance
in their lives and a greater interest in learning the “how”
of taking good care of themselves, enhancing their ability to focus on
overall wellness.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) classes are the cornerstone of
the services offered at the Calcagnini Center, in addition to other services
like meditation sessions, workshops, health coaching, and other integrative
medicine practices such as Yoga, Tai Ji Quan and massage, to name a few.
To register for Jupiter Medical Center’s Mindfulness-Based Stress
Reduction (MBSR) classes, visit
jupitermed.com/mindfulness or to learn more about the services at Calcagnini Center for Mindfulness
at Jupiter Medical Center, call 561-660-1828.
A quick practice in mindfulness
When fears, worries, and concerns about aging overtake you, try this three-minute
breathing space practice, which is used in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
to maintain openness and curiosity.
- Breathe in. Notice any thought bubbles that appear, including negative
thoughts about aging. Notice what these thoughts trigger in your body,
and which emotions arise. Continually remind yourself to be gentle, open,
and curious—even if (especially if) you feel overwhelmed. Aging
happens. It’s OK.
- After a moment of opening to whatever you noticed in your mind and your
body, rest your attention lightly but firmly on the rise and fall of your
belly, feeling the stretch of the inbreath, the release of the outbreath.
Your body is your anchor to the present moment. Notice when your attention
seeks distraction from being here. Do not judge. Simply notice and then
gently return to the rise and fall of your breathing.
- After a minute of repeatedly returning to the breath, expand your attention
out into the rest of your body, noticing whatever sensations arise. Be
aware of your facial expression and your posture. Then stretch a tiny
bit further and notice the space around you. Be here now.