I do not know who the author of this piece is, but I just had to bring it to you..........
"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!), 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 pool in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the water with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from others. 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 cat gets killed by some vecious dogs? 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.)
And this is the way I REALLY feel.................alive."
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This Site is dedicated to the development of your ATTITUDE, which is your ULTIMATE POWER. The content includes: Essays, Articles, Poems, Links, Inspirational stories, Quotes, Research, Music, an original series called the "Process" and Laughter....all focused on the Pursuit, Capture, Care and Feeding of a Positive Mental Attitude.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
How Does It Feel To Be Old?
Posted by DubLiMan at 5:35 PM
Labels: Feeling old, getting old, How does it feel to be old, old
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21 comments:
I really enjoyed that and talking to some of my family over the years it's sounds so familar with them. Great post.
This is an excellent post for me to read this morning, as I wake up to the thought that I am 70+1 day, my story would be just like yours except my music was from the 50's. I will share a secret many people do not know, retired is good........
ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL, Mel! THANKS SO MUCH for sharing!!! May I learn the same things, too. :-))))
Michelle,
Thank you. I hope I feel that way when I am physically "old."
Sarge,
I had this in my archives. I do not know who wrote it, but as I re-read it, my music is that of the 60s & 70s. With me, however, I am still unsure as to what I want to do when I grow up. Also, I doubt if I will ever truly retire for multiple reasons.
Amelia,
I thought this would be good for all ages to read. The only way to feel is that this is the best time of our lives, whatever time it is.
Touche, Mel!!! I wanna enjoy every season of my life. ;-D
Amelia,
Too many people are haunted by their past and live for tomorrow, never really understanding that today is all we have.
Hey Mel,
What a wonderful post!!!
I totally get you (not that I am getting old; for I am still in that phase of "growing older" lol): my granny (who is 70) looks like she is 55, it's amazing: great body, great mind, great attitude! My dad (who is 65) still looks like he's 50 (yeah, he is not as lucky as my granny, but perhaps it is due to the fact that he is Portuguese...too much drama lol; still he looks much better than a lot of Portuguese people in his age): I guess he is a happy person :)! My mom (who is 49) looks like an immortal lol (she doesn't have a single wrinkle in her face, I tell you; I have friends in their 20'/30's who have more wrinkles than her): this lady is an extremely happy person, always laughing and with a great mind :)!
And this is why I get you :).
As long as you feel great by being you, you will never get old (nevermind your body, there's nothing you can do about that...unless you want to humiliate yourself by using botox, and subject to plastic butchering...) :)!
Great post, as always :)!
Cheers
Max,
What more can I say; you have finished off my post beautifully!!
Excellent Mel. So true too. You have a wonderful day. :)
I'd respond appropriately to this post, but I couldn't read it - the type is too small. The ol' eyes ain't what they usta be. And then there was that time when, uh, I, uh... what was I talking about? Gol darned memory. They say your memory is the second thing to go.
Sandee,
Thank fro you ongoing support.
Baba,
Normal size print. Eyes, memory, ......., my friend, you got problems.
Seriously, I first write my post in word then copy it to Notepad to get rid of all the code crap, then copy to my site.
I just checked your site and the print is exactly the same size.
I once feared getting old because I was in a lot of physical pain as a kid and thought it would only get worse as I got older. That fear really prevented me from moving forward until I started training in a system called Internal Energy Plus which helped me get my health back, my spirit back, and my life back!
Now I don't fear getting old anymore so never let fear stand in your way of what you want!
In Truth,
Scott Ahrens
http://scottahrens1.blogspot.com
My weakness was living for tomorrow. I've always been a planner all my life. It all changed (not totally, though) once I moved here. I left everything behind and I gotta learn to live day by day. Oh, I still do some planning (I LOVE planning still), but I don't get stuck in daydreaming all the time. Plus hubby's a present tense guy who dislikes planning too far ahead, so it somewhat influences me, too. :-D
Hi Amelia,
Sometimes that is what it takes, being placed in unfamiliar waters to begin living for the moment. Planning is good, but only too a certain point.
LOL...great pic!! I hope I don't look like that when I am old!
Hi DS,
I don't know.....I think she is kind a cute?!?!
Almost FIFTY!
And I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up! He, he!
:)
azzitizz,
I have always, secretly, wanted to write. Now here I am, writing a blog. BTW, I have 10 years on you and I think I finally know what I want to be when I grow up.
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