What does it feel like to be old? (Page 2): Something I've not thought about, much. I guess that maybe I am "old" but do not feel old. To my knoledge, I have lived longer than any of...

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

Something I've not thought about, much. I guess that maybe I am "old" but do not feel old. To my knoledge, I have lived longer than any of my immediate family with the exception of my mother and a half sister. They made it to 87 and 86 respectively. I am 76 and have enjoyed my life so far. Mentally I feel as though I still have more life to live, but that is not my decison to make. Life is finite and as I once heard, "Do not take life seriously. No one gets out of it alive."

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

PhotogHobbyist wrote:

Something I've not thought about, much. I guess that maybe I am "old" but do not feel old. To my knoledge, I have lived longer than any of my immediate family with the exception of my mother and a half sister. They made it to 87 and 86 respectively. I am 76 and have enjoyed my life so far. Mentally I feel as though I still have more life to live, but that is not my decison to make. Life is finite and as I once heard, "Do not take life seriously. No one gets out of it alive."

SteveR Loc: Michigan

But dangit I wish I still had my 34 year old body!!

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

SteveR wrote:

But dangit I wish I still had my 34 year old body!!

Don't we all!

Mduffy910 Loc: Michigan

bcheary wrote:

Going the e-mail rounds.

The other day, a young person asked me: - What did it feel like to be old?
I was very surprised by the question, since I did not consider myself old. When he saw my reaction, he was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question. And after reflection, I concluded that getting old is a gift.
Sometimes I am surprised at the person who lives in my mirror. But I don't worry about those things for long. I wouldn't trade everything I have for a few less gray hairs and a flat stomach. I don't scold myself for not making the bed, or for eating a few extra "little things." I am within my rights to be a little messy, to be extravagant, and to spend hours staring at my flowers.
I have seen some dear friends leave this world, before they had enjoyed the freedom that comes with growing old.
-Who cares if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 in the morning and then sleep until who knows what time?
I will dance with me to the rhythm of the 50's and 60's. And if later I want to cry for some lost love...I will!
I'll walk down the beach in a swimsuit that stretches over my plump body and dive into the waves letting myself go, despite the pitying looks of the bikini-wearers. They'll get old too, if they're lucky...
It is true that through the years my heart has ached for the loss of a loved one, for the pain of a child, or for seeing a pet die. But it is suffering that gives us strength and makes us grow. An unbroken heart is sterile and will never know the happiness of being imperfect.
I am proud to have lived long enough for my hair to turn gray and to retain the smile of my youth, before the deep furrows appeared on my face.
Now, to answer the question honestly, I can say: -I like being old, because old age makes me wiser, freer!-.
I know I'm not going to live forever, but while I'm here, I'm going to live by my own laws, those of my heart.
I'm not going to regret what wasn't, nor worry about what will be.
The time that remains, I will simply love life as I did until today, the rest I leave to God.

Going the e-mail rounds. img src="https://static.... (show quote)

Mduffy910 Loc: Michigan

Here here! I feel the same way! I still get up at 4 am a habit honed to perfection from 32 years as management at Ford Motor Co.
I am sometimes surprised by who that old guy is in the mirror in the morning 😊 but it doesn't last long my minds eye still sees a younger version of myself.... as my Grandfather said at his 100th birthday celebration, just keep the birthdays coming!!

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Mduffy910 wrote:

Here here! I feel the same way! I still get up at 4 am a habit honed to perfection from 32 years as management at Ford Motor Co.
I am sometimes surprised by who that old guy is in the mirror in the morning 😊 but it doesn't last long my minds eye still sees a younger version of myself.... as my Grandfather said at his 100th birthday celebration, just keep the birthdays coming!!

FreddB Loc: PA - Delaware County

bcheary wrote:

img src="https://static.uglyhedgehog.com/images/s... (show quote)

No, I’d rather have my wife’s 34 year old body

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

FreddB wrote:

No, I’d rather have my wife’s 34 year old body

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

Lucasdv123

Aman to that.

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

bcheary wrote:

Going the e-mail rounds.

The other day, a young person asked me: - What did it feel like to be old?
I was very surprised by the question, since I did not consider myself old. When he saw my reaction, he was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question. And after reflection, I concluded that getting old is a gift.
Sometimes I am surprised at the person who lives in my mirror. But I don't worry about those things for long. I wouldn't trade everything I have for a few less gray hairs and a flat stomach. I don't scold myself for not making the bed, or for eating a few extra "little things." I am within my rights to be a little messy, to be extravagant, and to spend hours staring at my flowers.
I have seen some dear friends leave this world, before they had enjoyed the freedom that comes with growing old.
-Who cares if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 in the morning and then sleep until who knows what time?
I will dance with me to the rhythm of the 50's and 60's. And if later I want to cry for some lost love...I will!
I'll walk down the beach in a swimsuit that stretches over my plump body and dive into the waves letting myself go, despite the pitying looks of the bikini-wearers. They'll get old too, if they're lucky...
It is true that through the years my heart has ached for the loss of a loved one, for the pain of a child, or for seeing a pet die. But it is suffering that gives us strength and makes us grow. An unbroken heart is sterile and will never know the happiness of being imperfect.
I am proud to have lived long enough for my hair to turn gray and to retain the smile of my youth, before the deep furrows appeared on my face.
Now, to answer the question honestly, I can say: -I like being old, because old age makes me wiser, freer!-.
I know I'm not going to live forever, but while I'm here, I'm going to live by my own laws, those of my heart.
I'm not going to regret what wasn't, nor worry about what will be.
The time that remains, I will simply love life as I did until today, the rest I leave to God.

Going the e-mail rounds. img src="https://static.... (show quote)

The hip hurts until I get a cortisone shot and even then I can’t deliver a bowling ball with a four step approach, but I still bowl. I’m gradually changing my photography habit and have given up hunting and fishing, but my 90 year young wife and I enjoy seeing our great grandkids either in person, or through FaceTime or through the many photos our granddaughters send us. I am looking forward to the 200th anniversary of the founding of my alma mater in October 2024 when my granddaughter who is also an alumnus will be celebrating her 10th reunion and has promised to drive me if I can no longer drive because of AMD. So at 93, I’m still looking to get old!
Bud

Lucasdv123

I had a knee problem and when I would pull my index finger on my left hand towards my thumb just a little bit,it would hurt like hell.my brother recommended ostio byflex with turmeric. My knee pain was gone over night but my index finger took about 2 months.and speaking of meds.if you have tinnitus take lipoflabinoid.i took it for thee month the way the instructions tell you to.after that I take 1 pill per day and my ringing is down to almost nothing.they work.

Lucasdv123

When energy drinks came out about 20 years ago I had guys 20 years my Jr that started taking them .I would run circles around them all day long at work.they would tell me that they would have to take them to get through the day.i would ask them what the hell do you have to do in the bedroom.they wouldn't answer.

brrywill

bcheary wrote:

Going the e-mail rounds.

The other day, a young person asked me: - What did it feel like to be old?
I was very surprised by the question, since I did not consider myself old. When he saw my reaction, he was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question. And after reflection, I concluded that getting old is a gift.
Sometimes I am surprised at the person who lives in my mirror. But I don't worry about those things for long. I wouldn't trade everything I have for a few less gray hairs and a flat stomach. I don't scold myself for not making the bed, or for eating a few extra "little things." I am within my rights to be a little messy, to be extravagant, and to spend hours staring at my flowers.
I have seen some dear friends leave this world, before they had enjoyed the freedom that comes with growing old.
-Who cares if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 in the morning and then sleep until who knows what time?
I will dance with me to the rhythm of the 50's and 60's. And if later I want to cry for some lost love...I will!
I'll walk down the beach in a swimsuit that stretches over my plump body and dive into the waves letting myself go, despite the pitying looks of the bikini-wearers. They'll get old too, if they're lucky...
It is true that through the years my heart has ached for the loss of a loved one, for the pain of a child, or for seeing a pet die. But it is suffering that gives us strength and makes us grow. An unbroken heart is sterile and will never know the happiness of being imperfect.
I am proud to have lived long enough for my hair to turn gray and to retain the smile of my youth, before the deep furrows appeared on my face.
Now, to answer the question honestly, I can say: -I like being old, because old age makes me wiser, freer!-.
I know I'm not going to live forever, but while I'm here, I'm going to live by my own laws, those of my heart.
I'm not going to regret what wasn't, nor worry about what will be.
The time that remains, I will simply love life as I did until today, the rest I leave to God.

Going the e-mail rounds. img src="https://static.... (show quote)

Spoken like a poet, with the wisdom of time.... Very nice.