Can You Snorkel at 80? Turning “I Can’t” Into Possibility

🎧 Episode #59 Can You Snorkel at 80? Turning “I Can’t” Into Possibility

Do you worry about losing the ability to do a pleasurable activity or hobby as you age?

How should you best think about the limits of aging and address fears you have about losing your ability to do the things you love?

Do you wish you could stay more present in the moment, and leave annoying fear-based "what if" questions behind?

This episode started with a question:

Will I be able to snorkel when I'm 80 years old?

You'd think I'd have better things to ponder in the last days of my blissful snorkeling during my vacation in Hawaii, but strangely, my mind kept coming back to this question. In this episode, I show you how I turned this fear-based question into a positive, interesting reflection on aging, presence, mindfulness, and personal growth.

💭Key Takeaways from this Episode:

• Fear-based questions about aging are ultimately so connected to an unknown future that they can't be answered. When we look to the future, without knowing how our lives will change in the intervening years, we are trying to explore the unknown, what I refer to as the "Undiscovered Country." Yes, the Captain Kirk phrase is relevant here.
• Questions like "Will I be able to do ____ later in life?" are distractions. They distract us from enjoying the present moment, and ask us to think (and usually worry) about a future we can't possibly know.
• We can tame our distracting "monkey mind" (to use a term from Buddhism) by using the practice of noticing during our meditations and when thinking mindfully.
• Reframing fear-based questions to include the possibility of positive changes can help us let go of an internal false narrative that we are likely to feel a loss. We may develop new hobbies that replace our current ones. Thinking about what new and exciting things could come our way helps us deflect the negative feelings these fear-based questions bring up.
• Reflecting on fear-based questions about the future can lead us to understand new avenues for personal growth.

Journal Prompts to Reflect on Fearsome Age-Related Thoughts

Here are some journal prompts to reflect on fearsome questions and thoughts about the future. Write or reflect on these questions:

Like any great passion, my snorkeling enriches so many aspects of my life. It is a pillar of support for my mindfulness practice, my creativity, my sensory enjoyment of nature and color, and my connection to the natural world.

When fearsome questions pop up about it, I can notice them, see what new perspectives they spark, then move past them. Like that sea turtle that glides past me. I notice it, feel different things (usually all at once), and then move past the experience, richer for it but not clinging.

Honestly, who knows what’s around the next corner. That "undiscovered country" will offer something different tomorrow. I’ll be as ready as I am, and whatever that readiness may be, I know it will be enough. It must be, because it’s my moment and being present to interact with life’s moments in whatever state we do that in, is what life has always been about. Don’t be afraid to be present, to feel alive at this moment. It is here, right here, where I hope you find ways to savor the bright side of the beat.🌞

Podcast Music: My thanks to all the musicians who make incredible music and have the courage to put it out into the world. All music and sound effects for my podcast are sourced and licensed for use via Soundstripe.

Songs in this podcast episode: Billion Air by Ivy Bakes; Some Kind of Wonderful by Nu Alkemi$t; Con Sazón by In This World

Resources:

Sharon Salzberg: https://www.sharonsalzberg.com/

Related Episodes:

Hawaii: Quietly Stirring – Reflections on Nature, Wonder, and Presence (episode #58)
Sylvia Plath on Wanting Everything (and Nothing) (episode #46)
Khalil Gibran and the Trap of Overthinking (episode #45)
Mindful Living Through Meditation (episode #26)

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Journaling Resources

30-Day Journal Challenge (Writing Prompts to Get Started)

Here’s a fun & simple 30-day journal challenge for beginners (or those who need inspiration). Use the daily prompts to rediscover yourself.

Let the Verse FlowJill Hodge

Journaling 101: An Inspirational Guide to Start (or Revive) a Practice

Whether you write, doodle, draw, or keep memorable quotes, journaling uncovers YOU. Let your unconscious mind speak, download my free guide.

Let the Verse FlowJill Hodge

Let the Verse Flow (and its companion newsletter Flow & Voice) is a creative project created with love by writer, podcast host, and narrator Jill Hodge. If you subscribe today, you'll have full access to the website and newsletter, including articles, podcast episodes, and the Flow & Voice monthly note. Members are vital to building a rich community of diverse voices. Join us by subscribing today; consider a paid subscription to support Jill's work. Thank you!