This is old, but I like re-reading it and hope you will too:
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. Quite often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother !), but I don't agonise over those things for long.
I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less grey 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 biscuit, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly electrical kitchen item that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my work-surface. 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 ageing.
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 belly, 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.
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 grey, 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).
Written by
jeanjeannie50
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
The ability to reply to this post has been turned off.
How lovely. I really enjoyed reading your post and It brought a tear to my eye.
I find it so sad when people moan about getting older. When I was working in an office a man was moaning about becoming 40. I told him about my friend and cousin that died, one 25 the other 29. I said to him I can’t put up with you standing here as healthy as anything moaning about getting older etc. Afterwards I thought I was a bit harsh but he later said that conversation he had with me changed his life.
Sometimes I think its good to pull people up when they're moaning and make them realise what they need to be grateful for.
The bit that made me laugh most was the walking on the beach in a swimsuit stretched over a bulging belly, that is so me! However, I don't worry about it now. I'm happy to be me as I am.
I think you should be happy to be you as you are and that’s great to hear 🤗
Thanks for posting that, jeanjeannie50, to remind me why I too like being old. All those things mentioned, I feel too, and of all the gifts of old age, my favourite is that of being able to see to the heart of almost any matter, through the wisdom of having encountered and lived through many similar events.
Of course there are sadnesses too and the easy tears of old age, but I never saw much of a problem with being emotional. Enjoyment of moving music, poetry and prose is heightened, and the other thing which has surprised even me, is the lack of fear of death.
Not only can I eat dessert every day for my remaining life, but I will! 😃🙏
I find that by being older it's possible to throw off the constraints and worries we had when young. Now I tend to count my blessing more and yes my heart doesn't beat right as I have atrial fibrillation, but how lucky am I to have just that and not some of the far worse ailments that sneak in as we grow older.
There is no benefit in getting older unless you get wiser - and I have always thought that the age of wisdom was the age I was at the time.
I was disabled for five years, but I have lost 5½ stone, toned up my body with exercise, scrubbed my skin and got rid of most of the wrinkles - and I walk 30 or 40km per week.
My father was 24 stone - and I do not look like him... and I enjoy seeing that lean young man in the mirror.
A grey beard is the hallmark of experience and wisdom.
I do allow myself a little treat - when I am below 200lb, BMI 25 - and 14% body-fat.
As I get fitter, I find it easier to be positive.
I like keeping young and (relatively) fit. 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 and I rarely eat dessert.
I loved reading this post, I wish I could think this way.
Sadly I hate getting old because I have made so many mistakes and just want to be able to go back and do things differently. I also know that I will never now have time or strength to do many of the things I wanted to do.
I am not talking about amazing holidays, trips to far flung places or luxurious treats just everyday things.
Sorry to be negative I just can't turn off my thoughts.
I will strive to follow the serenity prayer but I don't find it easy.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing as the saying goes. 😶
Beautiful post ♥️🌻🙏. My blessings to your beautiful life.
I am going to be 57 in a few weeks and feel 40. To me old is a state of mind not that I don't feel what would be like 100 some days with depression and anxiety. I have negative thoughts about growing old more like I'll be a bag lady on the street and nobody will love me. My anxiety talking. I'm lucky my parents are alive I have 3 beautiful nephew's all grown with great careers and a 1 1/2 year old great nephew my parents first great grandchild. I could not have my own children but I do have the furry kind.
Thank you ♥️ for allowing me to look at life through less negative glasses,🙏🌻😊💚💛 and more sunshine! 🌞🌞
Thank u for your post. I too could not have children and have 2 wonderful nieces. I’m 49 and still trying to figure out my life without my own children. My life is a shell without any real meaning or value. Sorry for being negative.... take care of yourself and have a nice day!
I'm sorry you feel your life has no meaning. Is this because you cannot have children? You can certainly foster or adopt if you really want to have children..I basically spoiled my nephew's for their birthdays and Christmas. I've accepted the fact at age 40 when I had a hysterectomy. Your nieces for certain love their aunt ❤️ and spend more time with them if they live close by. They love you for sure just by the way you said you had 2 beautiful nieces. Right there is a meaning to live. My meanings to live are my parents whom I'm blessed to still have my nephew's and my dog's. I do know what you mean though I wish I had my own kids however obviously other plans were in order for me..I did counseling with children and teens for many years and I knew that was my calling as well as being an aunt and dog mommy to many. You are full of worth like Gold whether you have kids or not..you are special to many Inc your nieces. Sounds like you bring sunshine into their lives.
No apologies needed for being "negative" because I feel worthless a lot of the times and sometimes we need to express it. You're not alone. I'm here to talk anytime as well as this entire site. You will never walk alone. ⚓🙏🌞
I cherish my parents. We chat 3x daily and they live about a minute away. ♥️
Yes I feel blessed that they are still here with us.
That's a lovely post jj. It's not the getting old I mind, it's all the awful baggage that comes with it, not for every ageing person but certainly for some of us. x
Hi Jean it's Cliff the Aussie. It's been a long time since I was on this page - 365 days away from home in UK, Canada and USA. I still get the PVC's and they are still a jolly nuisance. Had a holter last week which picked up 13,000 of the little feckers in 24 hours but the Cardiologist still doesn't seem concerned. I think these jokers are largely charlatans who try to overcome the effect rather than ídentify a cause. My GP with whom I have hilarious laughing sessions insists that they are still benign but understands that they are still distressing, as we all know. I'm going to try magnesium taurate and see if that helps, otherwise I'm going to have to bite the bullet and convince myself to stop worrying about them.
Hi Cliff, yes PVC's are nasty little critters and it's all very well being told they're harmless - it doesn't stop how they make us feel! Yes, that's a good idea to try magnesium, people on the AF forum swear it has helped reduce their episodes.
Sounds like you've had a wonderfully long holiday.
Are you still living in Exeter? Beautiful place. We were supposed to be in UK for another 6 months by now but all flights were canceled. Fingers crossed for next year now.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
For bazzak and the gang 😇 I’m laughing over here head over heels parody 😂
My Mother’s endless issues