“The afternoon of life must also have a significance of its own and cannot be merely a pitiful appendage to life’s morning.” (Carl Jung)

Old age catches most people by surprise. Very few of us actually feel our age. We are, rather, reminded of our age by others — often in some kind of comparison of ourselves with others. Once reminded, we become painfully aware that our bodies are not what they once were.

Still, this is hardly a good reason for self-pity or self-indulgence.

The challenge is to be true to each stage of life. Growing older has its purpose, and we must choose to either ignore that or realize it. Even in old age, one can choose hope — not hope to one day find the fountain of youth and attain immortality but hope that one can continue to grow and become more fully oneself as long as there is breath in the body.