James Hillman: The Final Years Have a Very Important Purpose

These are amazing times in which we live. The role for each of us who are growing into Elderhood is significant. My deep and ongoing prayer is that we are finding our path, our creativity and voice and imagination, our courageous Self and soulful purpose, our unique expression of how it is that we are here to make a positive difference in the world. No act is too small. Every act rooted in love matters. And our grandchildren and the children yet unborn, and the children of all of the species of all time, are all looking to us now to step into our place in the family of things and claim our part in leaving the world a better place. Another world is truly possible. It is up to us. Then, when we are at the doorway passing from this world to the next we will be able to answer with a resounding Yes! to the question: "Did we love well? Were we kind? Did we become who we are?"

Namaste ~ Molly

Anytime you’re gonna grow, you’re gonna lose something. You’re losing what you’re hanging onto to keep safe. You’re losing habits that you’re comfortable with, you’re losing familiarity.

The easy path of aging is to become a thick-skinned, unbudging curmudgeon, a battle-ax. To grow soft and sweet is the harder way.

Aging is no accident. It is necessary to the human condition, intended by the soul. We become more characteristic of who we are simply by lasting into later years; the older we become, the more our true natures emerge. Thus the final years have a very important purpose: the fulfillment and confirmation of one’s character.

- James Hillman