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Hilary Airey's avatar

Hi Josie, thank you for all these musings. Expressing vulnerability is such a strength, I feel.

I can empathise with the loss of height. I too have lost over 3 inches in the past couple of years or so. I first noticed when I had to buy M&S trousers in Short length whereas before Regular was perfect for me. I thought for ages that Marks's had changed their sizing!

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Josie Rashmi Smith's avatar

Thanks, Hilary, it is reassuring to hear you have also lost height. I hope it doesn't continue at this rate though, and I do really wonder where it's gone.

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Michael Slater's avatar

Thanks for the beauty and as your friend Asma says, the candor in these reflections. I admire the way you say "yes" and accept the resistance, fear, uncertainty, and anticipatory grief for the losses ahead as embracing the strange magnificence of this process of aging and approaching death in this increasingly intimate way.

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Josie Rashmi Smith's avatar

Thanks, Michael. Lovely to hear from you. It feels good to write about this, my first instinct is to keep it private, however it is good to share how we feel about this process, which is kind of taboo in our culture. Awareness of the fleeting nature of life makes it so infinitely precious.

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Dr Asma Fischer's avatar

Josie what a wonderful grand, candid musing in where we are in life!

“ I am under no illusion that I have any control in how and when I will die, how long and painful the process may be, nor which one of us will go first.”

I second that intellectually but you are so right anxiety creeps in when faced with mortality.

Thus “ enjoy the moment to the full! “

Make plans and as someone said “ if they don’t fruition and you go before they do then so be it you have nothing to lose!”

I am enjoying the deep blue sapphire of the Mediterranean even in this heat wave !

Sending love and light!

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Josie Rashmi Smith's avatar

I totally agree, Asma, live in the present and enjoy it to the full. So good to hear you are beside the beautiful Mediterranean. Are you still in Turkey? The Celtic sea is also gorgeous, and I am really enjoying swimming there. What a blessing this summer is.

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Dr Asma Fischer's avatar

Inshallah next time I will try the Celtic Sea💗

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Camilla Sanderson's avatar

Hi Josie, your reflections hold such grace and courage—embracing both the beauty and the ache of aging with humor, tenderness, and spiritual depth. I’m moved by your unflinching meditation on aging, mortality, and the preciousness of the present moment, and how you frame death not as a foe, but as a quiet companion on life’s luminous path. It's a treat to read your words♥️🙏🕊️

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Josie Rashmi Smith's avatar

Thank you for the depth and love in your response, Camilla. As you said once before, we speak the same language.

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Camilla Sanderson's avatar

we most certainly do, Josie🥰

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Jacqui Taylor (she/her)'s avatar

Poignant my friend.

I too have bone density scans in account of my cancer meds so everything you said rang true. It’s something that had bothered me so much - that my bones will thin without any oestrogen. I’m only 53 so they need to do a fair amount more yet.

Living life go the full. Keep going my friend 🙏🏻

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Josie Rashmi Smith's avatar

Yay, Jacqui, we will dance harder, laugh longer and continue to embrace every miraculous moment. Here is to the fragile, lacy strength of bones.

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Katie Rose's avatar

Beautiful and heart felt thank you !

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