Getting Old

Of course, getting old sucks you say. You can’t do all the things you used to. You can’t do them half as well and you can’t do them half as quick!

Remember that the alternative is death.

I remember reading about a junior at an Ivy League university that was asked what she wanted to be when she turned forty. Her response was ‘Dead’.

I am sure she has changed her tune since but there are so many reasons to embrace getting older.

One of the most important reasons is that we can let go of other people’s expectations. If we are still worried about what other people think or say, we need an attitude adjustment. The only person that still expects more of us tends to be ourselves. So, lighten up buttercup.

Some people encourage and delight in what others are doing and then there are the people that feel the need to criticize and put down. You don’t want the people from the second group in your circle. Eliminate these people from your circle and if that isn’t possible, try to engage with them as little as possible. Life is too short to waste time with them.

Do what you want to do.

Since my retirement at age 66, I have started a new career as a writer. Am I any good? Not yet!

Am I going to let that stop me? Of course not. I know I need to take classes and practice for quite some time. I see an improvement in my writing as I continue in this career. I have tried different styles and different ideas and will continue to explore. The fact that I am still learning is the way it has to go.

I know that there are people who may laugh and think I’m silly to try something new at my age. But one of the great benefits of getting to my age is that I don’t care.

I still run and every two years or so I try to run a Half Marathon somewhere. Am I fast? God no! I am about twenty minutes slower than the last few runs I’ve done.

People do not seem to be shy to doubt that I run. I always walk the first five and the last five minutes of the run. Since I’m not good at doing my stretching, I do the walking. I’ve had people say with a sly smile that they have never seen me run. It’s kind of fun to ask them if they want to come with me on my next run. Funny, but they never show up to run.

Being this age I don’t care what they say. Neither should you.

Do you have something you would like to do and feel maybe it’s just too late? Well, find out. Maybe it isn’t going to be what you want to do after all. Fine, try it, decide if you want to do it, and get on with it. Life is too short to waste time worrying about what other people think about what you want to do.

You want to stay healthy, helpful, and happy.

This whole thing from birth to death is a journey. Come with me and see what is in the next phase. You can explore and take your time and decide what you want to do.

Find what will make you happy and go for it.