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Old 04-03-2008, 22:06   #1
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Comfortable in old age

The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, she was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let her know.

Old Age, I decided, is a gift.

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother / father!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.

I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon ?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)
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Old 04-03-2008, 22:50   #2
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Re: Comfortable in old age

like it TAL, just about sums up things great.
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Old 04-03-2008, 23:02   #3
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Re: Comfortable in old age

Can't agree Cashy .. nowt good about being old .. load of claptrap.
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Old 04-03-2008, 23:04   #4
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Re: Comfortable in old age

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Can't agree Cashy .. nowt good about being old .. load of claptrap.
dont bother me kate,lifes what ya make it.the older i get,the more i enjoy it, no medals for misery.lol
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Old 04-03-2008, 23:23   #5
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Re: Comfortable in old age

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dont bother me kate,lifes what ya make it.the older i get,the more i enjoy it, no medals for misery.lol
Not saying I am miserable Cashy .. just think the thoughts there are shrouded in a little too many 'poetical untruths'.
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Old 05-03-2008, 01:33   #6
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Re: Comfortable in old age

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Not saying I am miserable Cashy .. just think the thoughts there are shrouded in a little too many 'poetical untruths'.
ummmm.......you calling me a liar?.......
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Old 05-03-2008, 08:46   #7
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Re: Comfortable in old age

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Can't agree Cashy .. nowt good about being old .. load of claptrap.
Kate - you have only just retired from the rat race.
It won't take long before you begin to enjoy the luxury of-
Time to think
Time to remember
Time to appreciate simple pleasures

Old age is the age when you see yourself for who you really are.
You begin to like yourself--
if you don't---
no bu***r else will
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Old 05-03-2008, 09:10   #8
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Re: Comfortable in old age

When I get old I'll let you know how I feel about it
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Old 05-03-2008, 09:27   #9
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Re: Comfortable in old age

Being Older does have its downside (but then so does everything else)...but it beats the cr&p out of the alternative.
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Old 05-03-2008, 09:36   #10
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Being Older does have its downside (but then so does everything else)...but it beats the cr&p out of the alternative.
I have to agree with you Mrs Pilkington, it does.
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Old 05-03-2008, 09:36   #11
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Re: Comfortable in old age

Nicely put TBS

Am getting that way meself, although still a bit to go to retirement, but yep agree, although have had some very rough times in my 5 decades, - I agree with the old saying.............

"If it doesn't kill you, - you'll learn something from it"

As you "grow" (being the operative word) older you learn to appreciate life and look back on pleasures you've had and look forward with the experience of life to see and do other things,

And if it bothers other people...... tough !! - as long as I never intentionally set out to hurt anyone or anything... "frankly, I don't give a damn"

And as for these kids saying "we", the older generation, don't know anything about music, well I reckon we've lived through the most interesting and entertaining 5 decades of music, - always makes me laugh, the kids can't remember the "hits" of a few years ago, but put Karaoke on and its surprising how many Abba tracks etc they know off by heart......!!!!!

And when that final day comes, well I ain't scared of it, can't be scared of something I can't change, its the ONLY guaranteed thing in life....... as someone once said... "death, - its just nature's way of getting you to slow down"

In my youth I once read the words of St Francis of Asissi, they had a profound affect on me then and I stll try to live by them....

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
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Old 05-03-2008, 10:02   #12
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Re: Comfortable in old age

being in the second year of the over sixties club, appart from health problems, which have been with me for 30 years, life ain't all that bad, you can never say life is perfect, because the minute you do some D*** H*** screws it up for you. I think when you get older you tend to look at life in a far different way, you treat people differently too, your more tolerant and more easy going, but having said that I still don't tolerate fools gladly. But at the end ofthe day life is what you make irrespective of age, there is a say which is quite true, which is "laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone". that is why I use so many smilies
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Old 05-03-2008, 12:33   #13
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Re: Comfortable in old age

Nothing looks sillier than an elderly movie star/pop singer ,, with a face that has had so much surgery that they cant smile or blink their eyes properly...and hair that is raven black or bright orange,,
My motto is what you see is what you get.
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Old 05-03-2008, 12:41   #14
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Re: Comfortable in old age

My first husband died whilst still fairly young. Only days ago a dear friend of mine died after a great deal of suffering. She too was young. Being old would have been a wonderful gift to them if they had had the opportunity to enjoy it.
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Last edited by WillowTheWhisp; 05-03-2008 at 12:41. Reason: 'n' went awol
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Old 05-03-2008, 12:53   #15
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Re: Comfortable in old age

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My first husband died whilst still fairly young. Only days ago a dear friend of mine died after a great deal of suffering. She too was young. Being old would have been a wonderful gift to them if they had had the opportunity to enjoy it.
That’s a brave and just sentiment Willow and one that we should recognise in a world that sees family’s suffering so much loss of younger family members, worse when it affects us directly. We should embrace what we have, comfort it and share that gift.
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