Gracefully Old

Backstory

I had no previous experience in aging so when this phenomenon began, what could I expect? I remembered that my grandmother was old at 50. She had a tired demeanor, wore old lady shoes, and had given up on having fun. In the next generation, my mom danced the night away on her 75th birthday. So what can be expected of the next generation? 

Gracefully Old

I think there must be a trick to growing old gracefully and happily. I’m trying to figure out what it is. I talked with a group of neighbors who are up in years, and I mentioned that I always felt that wisdom would come with age. Well, the group had mixed feelings.

Then one gentleman may have nailed it. He said, “Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.” Insightful to say the least.

Another neighbor advised that it takes effort to get things done, so you try to do at least two things at one time. Like if you fall down, you look for your lost glasses or the remote under the couch before you get up. So okay, I added multi-tasking to my grow-old gracefully basket.

A retired executive explaining his move from employed to retired complained it’s frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions anymore.

A little gray-haired lady piped in, “Time may be a great healer, but it’s a lousy beautician.”

So my analysis of all this is that wisdom can indeed come with age. But sometimes, age comes alone. I conclude that as long as you keep your sense of humor, you’ll make it through. One good thing I found out, wrinkles don’t hurt, or at least that’s what they say.

P.S.  My personal goal in aging gracefully is to be able to say, “My life has been rewarding, my bucket list is empty, my family is thriving, and if everything ends tomorrow, so be it.” Amen!

[Show #17]