Hi there, welcome back to Radioheadspace.
It's Dora.
So recently, I experienced one of those moments many people anticipate with anxiety.
I found my first gray hair.
I'd seen rom-coms depict this moment countless times.
panic calls to their best friends, immediate appointments at the salon,
or desperately trying to pluck it out.
But when I first discovered my gray little buddy, my reaction surprised me.
I was genuinely excited.
It felt as though my body was finally catching up with my spirit,
like a little sprout from the seed of my old soul.
Now, aging doesn't have to be frightening.
Those first visible signs of aging are an opportunity to align our external selves with the wisdom that we've cultivated internally.
There's a beautiful Buddhist parable called the Silver Mirror.
An elderly woman became deeply distressed by the changes in her reflection.
Her once dark hair now silver, her smooth skin now gently lined with age.
She felt as though she was losing herself.
Seeking guidance, she went to a wise teacher who gently asked,
why do you mourn the woman you've lost?
instead of celebrating the wise woman that you've become.