Beautiful: thx 4 sharing. Ah! — & time unfolds each day's beauty without the press of regimented hours. To leisurely enjoy a grandchild's play is a bounty not measured by youth's wage. There's so much more in autumn's resplendent sunset that more than compensates for summer's blazing heat —no regrets entering winter.
I love this article! I agree 100% with your findings, I just never really thought about it until you put it in words for me.
I love the freedom that I find in older age (I am 85). Of major importance is: good family and friend relations, financial stability, and good health. At 85, I have less responsibility to others, more free time and many interests to explore.
Such positive feedback and great recommendations. An important article. At 88 and trying daily to adjust to the person I am “now”, rather than was “then”, a couple of recent life incidents. I use Apple Airtags to keep track of a few important items, keys, car, cane, etc. specs., but an airtag occasionally requires a battery change. In principle, quite simple…press down and turn slightly to open. This action has become impossible for me. A product defect? I go to an Apple Store and a nice young man demonstrates the opening process, and indeed it is basically very simple: press slightly and turn the disc. Impossible! I finally realize, despite many attempts, and “tricks”, the problem lies in my thinner skin and lack of strength. Solution therefore: 1) be patient, while 2) awaiting the visit of a younger stronger friend to assist me. Simple, elegant solution! But, requires mental adjustment rather than the “beat-myself-up-because-I-can’t-fix-it-NOW”!
Second “incident”: I recently attended the funeral of a dear friend of some 50 years. The following days were beset by lack of energy, lack of desire to read, watch, walk, or face the day. I tried to blame the grey mornings. Multiple lists piled up on my desk in an effort to find motivation. I barely made it from one end of the day to the other. Finally I decided to listen to my body, to cease trying to push past inertia, to rest and not flagellate myself for poor “productivity”, to accept that the sadness was deep and profound, and that I should gift myself with “time” and let the sadness work its way through me: to accept that the inertia was not a defect, but a process. This morning I woke to another grey day, but noticed a flurry of little birds around the feeder, that the first sip of coffee tasted “really good”, and a thought that maybe I should listen to a particular piece of music. And I notice that I do not “feel” as “heavy” or “despairing” today..
I once had a lovely neighbor and friend, former doctor and opera lover, who at 90 still attended “grand rounds” just to keep in shape, who, diagnosed with terminal cancer, asked me if I would mind taking her to see the Wagner “Ring Cycle” (all four operas!) before she died. I still recall her joy.
I try to remind myself that “Life” = “Lifelong Learning”.
I wondered why I abruptly ended several friendships that no longer felt comfortable. Friends that constantly looked at the negative when I could see the positive in their situation. Now I understand better. I have few true friends”friends” but value each one I do have. I’ll be restocking this article. I see it as a must read.
At age 70 I sang into a microphone for the first time. My husband and I feel like we have a "whole new lease on life" now that we play music together, with friends, and also perform fairly regularly. I do feel like myself more than ever!
I am more apt to enjoy each day, knowing that they are "numbered". Hooray for my 70s!
I am turning 64 tomorrow and loved this section: You have spent decades learning, often through difficult experience, what genuinely brings you satisfaction and what does not. That knowledge is not abstract. It shapes how you spend your time, who you spend it with, and how you interpret what happens to you. Amen!
I'm 73 and have worried about keeping up with who I was , instead of who I am now. It gives me some perspective on aging instead of looking at it as just decline. I'm not now or am I going to be who I was even a couple of years ago..I need to just enjoy what I have in the moment..
Not the first article on this subject that I've encountered, but the most lovingly written.
I wouldn't say I have much leisure, yet; in fact, I'm still working AND navigating the frequently bogus world of AI. But in coming to terms with the fact that I'm no longer first out of the gate intellectually, I've also learned to appreciate my ability to remember and savor the things that got me here.
Whenever I need a laugh about age, I think of Kathy Bates' character in "Fried Green Tomatoes". When those smug girls stole her parking spot, they said "Face it, lady, we're younger and faster." When Kathy backed her heavy car into their plasticmobile with a huge grin and their jaws dropped, she said "Face it girls. I'm older and I have more insurance."
This was a very interesting article. It is making me think about what I have done, what I’m doing and what I need to do next in order to maintain a positive, healthy aging lifestyle - mentally and physically. I agree with all of the points especially Gain #2. I had to let go of a few people who were in my life. Since retiring, I was interested in learning and exploring new things, growing conversations. They did not. So what did I do? I let them go. Again, love this article.❤️ Thanks for sharing.
Truly enjoyed this refreshing perspective on aging. My husband and I are in our 70s. We moved abroad and spend our lives with MORE friends and community than ever before, not because we need them we have so much in common.
Beautiful: thx 4 sharing. Ah! — & time unfolds each day's beauty without the press of regimented hours. To leisurely enjoy a grandchild's play is a bounty not measured by youth's wage. There's so much more in autumn's resplendent sunset that more than compensates for summer's blazing heat —no regrets entering winter.
Love it, thank you for commenting!
Great column.
I needed this today. Thank you!
I love this article! I agree 100% with your findings, I just never really thought about it until you put it in words for me.
I love the freedom that I find in older age (I am 85). Of major importance is: good family and friend relations, financial stability, and good health. At 85, I have less responsibility to others, more free time and many interests to explore.
Holley
Such positive feedback and great recommendations. An important article. At 88 and trying daily to adjust to the person I am “now”, rather than was “then”, a couple of recent life incidents. I use Apple Airtags to keep track of a few important items, keys, car, cane, etc. specs., but an airtag occasionally requires a battery change. In principle, quite simple…press down and turn slightly to open. This action has become impossible for me. A product defect? I go to an Apple Store and a nice young man demonstrates the opening process, and indeed it is basically very simple: press slightly and turn the disc. Impossible! I finally realize, despite many attempts, and “tricks”, the problem lies in my thinner skin and lack of strength. Solution therefore: 1) be patient, while 2) awaiting the visit of a younger stronger friend to assist me. Simple, elegant solution! But, requires mental adjustment rather than the “beat-myself-up-because-I-can’t-fix-it-NOW”!
Second “incident”: I recently attended the funeral of a dear friend of some 50 years. The following days were beset by lack of energy, lack of desire to read, watch, walk, or face the day. I tried to blame the grey mornings. Multiple lists piled up on my desk in an effort to find motivation. I barely made it from one end of the day to the other. Finally I decided to listen to my body, to cease trying to push past inertia, to rest and not flagellate myself for poor “productivity”, to accept that the sadness was deep and profound, and that I should gift myself with “time” and let the sadness work its way through me: to accept that the inertia was not a defect, but a process. This morning I woke to another grey day, but noticed a flurry of little birds around the feeder, that the first sip of coffee tasted “really good”, and a thought that maybe I should listen to a particular piece of music. And I notice that I do not “feel” as “heavy” or “despairing” today..
I once had a lovely neighbor and friend, former doctor and opera lover, who at 90 still attended “grand rounds” just to keep in shape, who, diagnosed with terminal cancer, asked me if I would mind taking her to see the Wagner “Ring Cycle” (all four operas!) before she died. I still recall her joy.
I try to remind myself that “Life” = “Lifelong Learning”.
I wondered why I abruptly ended several friendships that no longer felt comfortable. Friends that constantly looked at the negative when I could see the positive in their situation. Now I understand better. I have few true friends”friends” but value each one I do have. I’ll be restocking this article. I see it as a must read.
Great article!
At age 70 I sang into a microphone for the first time. My husband and I feel like we have a "whole new lease on life" now that we play music together, with friends, and also perform fairly regularly. I do feel like myself more than ever!
I am more apt to enjoy each day, knowing that they are "numbered". Hooray for my 70s!
This is great! I’ve felt all of these good things, but chalked it up to therapy. Now maybe I can save a bit on that bill and chalk it up to age 😊
Nice post from a 77-yr.-old reader. All is not lost!
I am turning 64 tomorrow and loved this section: You have spent decades learning, often through difficult experience, what genuinely brings you satisfaction and what does not. That knowledge is not abstract. It shapes how you spend your time, who you spend it with, and how you interpret what happens to you. Amen!
I'm 73 and have worried about keeping up with who I was , instead of who I am now. It gives me some perspective on aging instead of looking at it as just decline. I'm not now or am I going to be who I was even a couple of years ago..I need to just enjoy what I have in the moment..
Not the first article on this subject that I've encountered, but the most lovingly written.
I wouldn't say I have much leisure, yet; in fact, I'm still working AND navigating the frequently bogus world of AI. But in coming to terms with the fact that I'm no longer first out of the gate intellectually, I've also learned to appreciate my ability to remember and savor the things that got me here.
Whenever I need a laugh about age, I think of Kathy Bates' character in "Fried Green Tomatoes". When those smug girls stole her parking spot, they said "Face it, lady, we're younger and faster." When Kathy backed her heavy car into their plasticmobile with a huge grin and their jaws dropped, she said "Face it girls. I'm older and I have more insurance."
(I love her in "Matlock" too.)
This was a very interesting article. It is making me think about what I have done, what I’m doing and what I need to do next in order to maintain a positive, healthy aging lifestyle - mentally and physically. I agree with all of the points especially Gain #2. I had to let go of a few people who were in my life. Since retiring, I was interested in learning and exploring new things, growing conversations. They did not. So what did I do? I let them go. Again, love this article.❤️ Thanks for sharing.
Truly enjoyed this refreshing perspective on aging. My husband and I are in our 70s. We moved abroad and spend our lives with MORE friends and community than ever before, not because we need them we have so much in common.
Most excellent! I became 70 just days ago and am "classified" as disabled which is annoying but YES, YOU SAID WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID!