Live your life to the fullest

[Jo McDonald]

 
    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's &70's, and
if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

  I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging
body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to,
despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

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 pet gets hit by a car?  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 turn
silver, 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)

    MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM
THE HEART!  MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND
IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER!

 

[Judy Harder]

Jo,

Everytime I read that I just keep saying, "yep that is the way I feel" 
I don't mind getting old-er.........I mind that each day goes faster and faster and
I keep dragging my feet the way I did when brakes went out on my bike.

I still have things to do and God willing they will get done.    The biggest thing is to enjoy what I have left

and not worry if I decide that I can quit if I want. No one says I must get dressed or do one more chore.

do take time to smell the roses...........next it will be winter and they will be asleep.

Hey that sounds ok to me, time for a nap........LOL......
Hugs and God bless

[Wilma]

When I think about all the things I want to do yet and then about how old I am already, I don't think it is going to come out even.  I don't like the idea of leaving things undone or the idea of not having anything I want to do.  So what do I do?

[Roma Jean Turner]

I too, so identify with the above statement.  I am happy to be 63 and enjoying my life, more than I ever have.
They say that the biggest determining factor in aging gracefully and living longer is being able to deal with loss.  Crying one's tears and moving forward with ones own life.  There's just so much to do here on good old planet earth.  I love the food as well.

[Rudy Taylor]

Oh, my goodness, Jo.  What a beautiful little essay.  I could sign my name to it, although I could never express it so well.

I'm getting ready to turn 62, which to me isn't old.  Yet, I notice my grown children smiling at each other when I'm around them.
I apparently tell the same old stories over and over again, just as I said I would never do. So, age apparently has found me.

I notice my steps are a bit slower but I do put more thought into each one I take. A sunset doesn't go unnoticed when you
reach my age. Kindness is appreciated, whether it is directed to you or others. Positive comments by older folks always inspire
me, a point that few seniors seem to grasp.

Personally, I think folks grow more attractive as they age. They're more natural, less vain about their lumps, silver hair and
the wrinkled lines faces. For those who have spent their lives smiling, the habit continues, whether one is 60, 80 or 100. Younger
folks sound learn that lesson.

Making love changes to a more romantic climate, many times consisting of quiet talks on the porch, listening to music from
a bygone era, holding hands ... and sometimes more. After all, we ain't dead yet!

My wife and I, too, love the freedom found in being older. It is so peaceful at home. Dreams are more realistic, more attainable because they don't involve spending a lot of money or buildng something new.  Our old digs are so comfy.

The changing of the seasons are appreciated most by older people, and for obvious reasons.  We simply don't know if we will
see another autumn, spring, summer or winter. We have no fears other than being a nuisance to someone in our old age, and
we hold a profound faith in God that grows sweeter as we draw closer to the day when we shall meet Him.

I really didn't mean to get so emotional about this.  I just thought Jo jotted some poignant lines.  And I thank her.

[frawin]

Jo, that is beautiful and so very true. By the way you have aged beautifully, Myrna and I have both commented about how great you look. My Myrna has lots of grey hair and I tell her I love it as I always wanted to love older women. Life has been really good to us and we are very thankful. I love being a Grandpa and Father and would not trade that for the opportunity to be younger. My biggest regret is all of the people that I miss that have passed on, and most of them are people that were part of my life in growing up in Howard Kansas. There were so many people that were so good to me and helped shape my life in a positive direction. Bill Gragg, Clad Criger, Guy Denton, Earl, Leon, and John  Garrison Sr., Clay Reams, Willard Morris, and many more.
Frank

[Ole Granny]

Frank and Myrna,

The two of you are truly blessed.  Forty-four years- it does not seem possible.  Being a Grandparent is simply wonderful!.  We have had 18 grandchildren but one passed away.  That is hard.  Eight daughters and one of them has passed. Hard. Plus one son-in-law passed away. The feelings and love between your children and grandchildren is worth everything.    This afternoon I was at one granddaughter's house.  She just started kindergarten this year but has been enrolled in WSU Preschool since she was very little.
For some reason Kindergarten has really been a huge adjustment for her.  When she gets home from school, she wants to stay in her room where she feels comfortable.  As I walked by her room, she smiled at me, then said, "Grandma come in and lay down on the bed with me.  I need to tell you about my day."  I did and she told me about her day.  A special closeness shared.  Sometimes in our big world we forget how important little things are to small ones.

Rudy,

I'm getting ready to turn 64, which to me isn't old until I look in the mirror. LOL
My grandmother had beautiful silver hair which I always admired.  Somehow on me it is not so beautiful.  I cannot seem to get to the silver stage-only the faded weak gray mixed in with the brown. 

In case anyone missed it, the moon was beautiful tonight.  Still have time to check it out.