I know, you've said that many times to me about Lisa' influence on you.. but then she's my age isn't she so she's still enjoying life and living for her children and young grandchildren.. . but your first paragraph is interesting...I've never heard anyone say that the mind gradually withdraws from life.... I know that's probably not everyone as you say, but interesting to me none the less . I would like to love life until the day I die... but if I can't for some reason love it and enjoy it, I want my mind to ''gradually withdraw''... but not with a horrible disease like Dementia, please God!!
The reason I say that is over the past decade I have spent time with several friends and relatives in their late 80s and early 90s during their last years, and every one, though still able to live a reasonable life, said they had grown tired of life and were ready to die. In fact my own brother Geoff who is recovering from cancer said he was ready to die and had no fear of it. I will carry on living to the full as long as I can, but over the past few couple of years I have noticed signs of this tiredness of life when I am in a particularly low mood. Yes I agree dying of Dementia or another terrible illness would be awful.
@Terry Page you indeed stated a concept of growing old that strikes a personal note with me. For me, each day it seems I let go of something that just doesn't matter anymore and was causing me to worry or just draining my mental energy. Hope that makes sense. I always enjoy your travel monologues and those great pictures. After reading about one of your many adventures, I'll start planning a getaway of my own. We have 3 trips planned before the end of the year and the thought of them gets me up each morning with a little extra spring in my step. My reward for finally packing it in and fully retiring. As far as telling your age, since I am currently in the work force full time, I don't have to remind my co-workers about my age. I'm just the 'Old Guy' who can still keep up with the youngins...
Well....... I get up in the morning and the first thing I do is check the obituary column in the newspaper.. If my name isn't there, ........ ITS GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY..
One thing we haven't addressed: Say you're having a 70th birthday today. You think that now you're going to be 70 for a year. WRONG! Your 70th Birthday means you've COMPLETED 70 years of life! Those 70 years are PAST! They're HISTORY! Tomorrow you'll be entering your 71st year of life! So you see, my Forum Friends...you can add a year to whatever age you are! Have a good one, Hal
And you are blessed with a young wife and two young children at 76....that's amazing Martin...you are blessed indeed.
When I read the above @Terry Page I immediately understood what you were saying. I just express it differently...it's more of letting go of earthly treasures and reaching more towards those heavenly ones.
Pleased to hear you enjoy my travels Tim, I try and write what I would like to read when I can no longer travel myself ...........also good to hear that you have retired and go on some trips soon, may I ask where you are going? Regarding the letting go of things that don't seem to matter anymore, I find that area of ageing fascinating ..............., life has for me become much easier, by simply accepting each moment as it is.......... I no longer get excited about much, but also don't suffer disappointment when things don't turn out as expected. I guess I just care less in general about the world and it's apparently chaotic state, I simply enjoy life and find the majority of people no matter what country I am in, are very kind and helpful,....... travel has in effect made me understand we are all pretty much the same, with similar needs and worries. ...........plus by talking to the locals I realise that every government is corrupt, most on an industrial scale, but the majority of people carry on their lives, because in the end they accept the situation.
Yes @Babs Hunt I am not a believer, but I understand your way of putting it makes complete sense if you are.
@Terry Page as for the trips upcoming, we are heading to Chicago for a break, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee to check out the season change and finally to Disney World in Florida to become a kid again. I was lucky enough to visit quite a few countries while serving in the Air Force and I also found people are pretty much the same everywhere. Most notably, the kids were the same, playing games and laughing a lot.
Well, I think "age" is only a number! It's how you feel in your heart and mind. Personally, I still feel young at heart and keep active. My 13 year old grandson just told me this week I was a "cool grandma"! LOL