Today Is a Gift: Griggs Irving

Born in 1936, Griggs Irving is a retired educator and entrepreneur whose passion is helping others learn. I have lived a kaleidoscopic life from New England to the Pacific Northwest. A life of amazing colors and shapes predominated by more brilliancy than darkness,  energized by a family of extraordinary once children, now including grands and great-grands, all of whom continue to open my eyes to the fabulous complexity of Life and the Universe. Along with family has been a lifetime of interaction with some of the most extraordinary people who, knowingly or unknowingly, have opened doors to shown me paths I never knew existed.

How do you think about how you grew up?

The day I appeared on earth, I was set in a groove, a path, which was the road of life that my parents had been on for more than three decades. There was no advice. My route was predetermined.

This new ‘me’ was naturally subjected to, hence taught about, my parents’ food, speech patterns, and all practices of their cosmic belief and behavior system. All of that became etched and programmed into my developing brain.

While there were similarities between me and my parents, I soon became aware that there were some differences, things that I liked better or were just different. As I grew and developed and saw other ways of living, I felt urges to shift from my parents’ groove to a path where my mind, body, and spirit felt more comfortable, more effective. I needed to move to a path that better suited the unique person I was or wanted to become.

“Assisting” your parents to see and respect your differences may be a challenge.

What wisdom would you share with a younger person about aging and what it means?

It is important to identify your own uniqueness. Then, to find the more specific path where your interests and abilities allow you to become enriched and fulfilled in your life. Or you may stay in the predetermined “rut.”

Whether you are one or ninety, just living is aging. As you age, the QUALITYof your journey often depends (no matter how limited) on the choice of how, why, where, and when you live, and who you live with. In the first years of life, you have no choice. Soon, you begin to have choices. Later in life, you might find that your abilities or opportunities to choose may often diminish.

All journeys have a Start and a Finish. In life, it’s called Birth and Death. In between, you will bump into both pain and pleasure. How you deal with those things will result in levels of success and satisfaction.

I would talk about aging graphically by breaking “Life’s Journey” into several stages. The simplest would start with decades: Birth to 10, 10 to 20, 20 to 30, etc., 90 to 100. (Very few live much beyond 100.) Another way would be to identify the characteristics of Youth, Maturation, Young Adult, Productive Years, Active Wisdom, Senior Years, Time of Frailty. That’s it. Use it well.

Youngsters often lament, “When will I EVER grow up?” Old folks cry, “Where did the time go? There is so much more I want to see and do.” CHEER UP because at any stage, it is Quality over Quantity that brings success. What is important is the Life in Your Years, not the Years in your Life that lets you age with a smile on your face and “a song in your heart.”

Your Life Journey started at a location and a time on planet Earth, not of your choice. It cannot be guaranteed, but you MAY, with lifestyle and medicine, good luck, and friends, have some choice on the length of time and location when and where your journey here will end.

One of the wisest men I know tries every day to: Educate himself; Contribute; Be a good person; Have some fun.

What does the next, possibly last, chapter of your life look like?

I am a realist. I get clarity and release from accepting tough truths. Due to my physical frailty and a lengthy diagnosis of Parkinson’s Dis-ease, the end of my Journey on this plane is fast approaching and my life will cease. I’m not sad because there’s nothing wrong with this scenario, especially since my personal mantra is: Yesterday is History. Tomorrow is a Mystery. Today is a Gift.

So, I live for Today, but “What might my Next Chapter look like?” What I do know is that humans do not live forever and sometime, ever sooner-than-later, I will be terminated by the inevitable Law of Nature.

Truly, Tomorrow is a Mystery. But if I do wake tomorrow, my PLAN is to:

  • Educate myself (because I enjoy learning)
  • Contribute (thoughts or things that will empower myself and others)
  • Be good (helpful, positive)
  • Have some fun (in so many delightful, though at this stage small, ways)

If I don’t wake tomorrow, then, metaphorically speaking, my book will have been closed, and my lights turned off.

If I do wake up tomorrow…Then, I will do what I do every day, MAKE CHOICES.