My Rambling Thoughts On Getting Old
"There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age." ~Sophia Loren
I don't want to get old. And I bet you don't want to either. But we can't stop it. But we can work at thriving and making the most of the process. Don't let anyone tell you how you are supposed to act now that you are getting older. You continue to be you. Sure, you are an older version of yourself, but you should be the best older version you can be. After all, this could be your last chance to be that person you genuinely want to be. Or you can stay the wonderful person you have always been.
I sure don't want to go around talking about how old I am getting. Yes, I am getting old, but I don't need to be reminded of it. I stand by the theory that you are only as old as you feel. And I don't feel old. Age is just a number, a number I prefer not to think about.
If we want to thrive-
Stay optimistic about the aging process.
Stop referring to ourselves as old.
Do our best to maintain that young feeling.
Take care of our health.
Socialize, socialize and socialize some more. Take a class, start a new hobby, visit the senior center and make some new friends.
Most of all, don't become that cranky older person. We may have to work a little harder on this. Everyone will be much happier, us included, if we work at being happy.
Put your physical and mental health above worrying about a few wrinkles.
Don't let anyone talk to you like you are a child. I know that is one thing I don't want. Please do not patronize me. I am not a child. I am a fully functioning, mentally alert older adult woman.
Ask for help if you need it. But I don't want anyone to assume I cannot do things for myself. I promise if I need help, I will ask. I understand you want to be helpful. But I want to continue to function on my own.
I don't want to hear 'At your age.' Unless you happen to be my doctor, stop right there. At my age, I know what I can and cannot do.
I may be getting older, but I can drive my car, use a cell phone and a computer, and still learn new things. My life has not changed all that much. Sure, I no longer work, but I still live my daily life and do all the things I used to do. And now, I am thinking of doing things I have never done before.
Don't let getting old drag you down and depress you. It just might be the best is yet to come. And that is primarily up to you.
There is no shame in getting old. We are lucky to reach the status of old. But we don't need to be continually reminded about it. Hello, we know we are old. And we plan on enjoying every minute of it. So get out of our way. You can't live a good life if you sit there and do nothing.
Okay, ramble over. I hope I at least made a little sense. Sometimes I tend to ramble on.
"I suppose real old age begins when one looks backward rather than forward." ~ Mary Sarton
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