When I was growing up, I loved a song by Paul Simon called Slip Slidin’ Away. In my youth, it felt like a catchy tune about life’s tendency to drift off course just as you think you are arriving somewhere.
I didn’t think much of it then. But hearing it again later in life, now in my late seventies, it took on a very different meaning.
When Life Begins to Slip and Slide Away
As you get closer to death, life itself can feel like it is slipping and sliding away. This is not necessarily a negative reflection, but rather an observation of how time and energy change. You have less of both. The things you once did easily become part of your history. Activities you loved gradually move into memory.
More time is spent caring for the body. As different systems slow down or change, you become more aware of your physical limits. In response, you begin to move inward, into presence, awareness, and simply being. As long as the mind remains clear, presence is always available.
Breath, Energy, and Where It Goes
Yesterday, we wrote about breathing. When you learn to use breath to center consciousness in the body, you can access more of your energy. The question then becomes what to do with that energy.
Long hikes, mountain camping, and adventurous travel may become distant memories. Much of your energy is now directed toward daily life, grocery shopping, doctor visits, maintaining your home, and managing basic needs. Everything takes more time, and rest becomes more important.
I still spend a lot of time gardening and enjoy the physical work of weeding, watering, and digging. It is very different from kayaking down rivers when energy and time felt endless. Today, many of those activities are no longer safe or practical. Reflexes slow, strength declines, and small things can become big concerns.
How Aging Can Deepen Spirituality
In a way, aging can deepen spirituality, if spirituality is understood as awareness of your own energy and how it changes. You begin to pay closer attention to your body, to advice from doctors, and to the shared experiences of others.
If you enjoy water, swimming can be a good, gentle activity. It keeps you moving without the same level of strain. But it also requires more rest and recovery than it once did, and it does not build strength the way it did in younger years.
Purpose, Presence, and the Pull of Memory
One of the hardest parts of aging is that many people lose a clear sense of purpose. Careers are complete, many friends are gone or unwell, and daily life can become quieter. Without purpose, it is easy to spend too much time in memory instead of presence.
Music as a Way Back to Life
Music continues to be one of the best ways to reflect, feel, and reconnect with life. In earlier years, it might have been rock and roll that carried that energy. Today, concerts, documentaries, and biographies often serve that role.
Many of the artists we admired now have documentaries that tell the story of their lives. It is inspiring to see how they began, struggled, and created something lasting. Even though many are no longer alive, their work remains accessible and alive through recordings and film.
Recently, I have been watching documentaries and interviews featuring Chuck Berry, John Lennon, and Elvis Presley. Their stories are a reminder that while time may slip and slide away, curiosity, reflection, and appreciation can continue to grow throughout life.
