Time just doesn't matter anymore. Aside from the occasional reminder that time exists like a doctor's appointment or when the social security check shows up, the clock can do whatever it wishes because I do not care. I try to give myself a mental list of things to do each day, but alas, when and if I get to them is a matter for the time clock and I ran out of punch cards long ago. In a lot of ways I am still as crazy as I was 40 years ago, healthier than I was 30 years ago, I do not worry about failure as much as I did 20 years ago, more content than I was 10 years ago, love my wife more than I did just 1 day ago. I'm just as intelligent as I have always been but a lot wiser than I have ever been. So, what's not to like?
@Chris Ladewig Not having had any kids, I can only suppose that if I did, there is little doubt they would treat me like an addled old fool! Perhaps therein lies the underlying never-mentioned reason for working at not having any. Frank
I formally retired in 1990 at age 56 and will be 83 next month. I never thought of myself as growing olduntil just three years ago when I turned 80. The realization that I could no longer do all of the things I had done in those first 25 years of retirement brought me to that conclusion. I now accept all the challanges of growing old like walking with a bit of pain because I still need to exercise. Treading water in a pool for a hour. instead of swimming. Using Uber as my main means of transportation. Ordering many things that I need and want from Amazon. Pursuing a Cochlear Implant so I can once again hear. Preparing my own meals to keep my culinary skill intact, Cleaning my apartment for the exercise.
I think surviving hardships make us feel older, if not wiser. Not everyone survives. Many may even still walk this earth, but you see no "tomorrow" in their eyes. Those are the ones that give up. They are only marking time, no matter their age. Every one of you are still finding ways to enjoy the life you have, and until you stop, you're not old.
I am actually more at peace at 66 years old than I've ever been in my life. I don't feel I have to do anything I don't want to do anymore...whether people get upset about this or not. And I am finally comfortable in my own skin...even if that skin is saggy and baggy. I love not having to get up at a certain time or having to cook all the time too. I love being able to read, pray, even just watch a movie or listen to music when I feel like it instead of when I have time for it. I don't like the aches and pains....or the surprises in my health, etc. But I love knowing that I can slow down or speed up at my own pace and not at others pace now. I loved every season of my life...but this is the season of my life I feel the most freedom in.
I wonder if the senior years are what any of us thought they would be like. Did they turn out as you thought they would? Truth be told, I never expected to see my senior years, and even so, I never thought I would be going through them alone. But I must say, now that the intensity of my grief is lessening, I am beginning to see that "my" senior years are providing a time to reflect on who I have become since I first married at 13. After finally excepting the fact that no matter how much I want to, I can never bring back those that made the wheels of my life go around. That said, I'm starting to enjoy the leisure that comes from not having the daily grind or responsibility of earning a living. I get up when I wish. I can binge read all night. I can travel where and when I wish. I now have the time to watch the squirrels with my furbaby, Izzy. I have enough to buy myself a few toys. I have the time, space, and peace of mind to contemplate my naval if I wish. I'm just beginning to see that I still have many possibilities open to me. Life is not over yet.
We often concentrate on what we don't have in life....but I find as we age it is so much better to concentrate on what we do have. And when we take a good look at this...we still have so much to be thankful for and so much we still can love and enjoy in our lives.
Its a good time and I hope it is not too short because I have plans. Nothing spectacular mind you but little plans. I have a lung disease and I picked up a harmonica some few years back to help me expand my lungs and to strengthen my diaphragm. I play it now for pleasure. One of my little plans is to play a wooden flute. I have made arrangements to visit a fluted make and see how he makes them, what he has on hand, which keys, etc. and learn all I can then learn to play the rascal as an added reason to stay healthy. Like I said, little plans.
Hey @Bill Boggs , I'm so glad you dropped in, I've been worried about you. I admit I've been peeping over to the place we met, and I finally saw you posting, so that made me feel better. Sometimes it's hard to know when one is being intrusive, and I didn't wish to do that to you. Although, since you dropped in, I'll take the opportunity to say, it really good to hear your "voice". You just made my day!
Thank you Ina. Hope you've been feeling much better and have things going more your way. You're not being intrusive. We have both checked on each other.
I've found only one thing .... Getting older has given me the true grasp of what 'personal faith' really means .... not just in God, I mean finally putting my foot down even to sometimes reject those who formerly would say things I'd simply think were obviously true and correct ... and that I should cast in mental concrete ... such as doctors opinions, tv ministers, beloved and famous newscasters, money managers, .... anyone trying to shape and force on me some type of damnable reality and hang it around my neck ... I learned that to understand what 'true personal faith' is you must come to a day when you are the only one in the proverbial room who believes something different than all the rest .... contrary to popular belief, majority doesn't rule, majority just overly influences and distorts the truth by their sheer numbers alone. Ask General Custer ...
Today I had to make a very hard decision. Whether to shave my legs or not. My 26 y/o grandson asked me why I still shaved my legs. Good question I thought, although I'm one of the lucky ones who only has to about every 10 to 12 weeks. There just isn't much hair on my legs. I guess it's the Indian in me. But, I thought about it, after I shaved. Maybe I'll pass on it next August. Do all of you ladies still shave?