* Views On Aging *

[Rove]

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

"How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life . . . you become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony . . . YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50

and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92"

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"

May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!



HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them "

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets,keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable,improve it. Iday thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92"

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"

May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!



HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them "

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets,keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable,improve it. Iday thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92"

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"

May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!



AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

[Rod Neep]

And remember... growing older may be mandatory... but growing up isn't.


Rod

[Diane Grant-Salmon]

Well, from one who is sixteen on the inside and starts *dancing* whenever she hears her favourites being played, (e.g. Honky Tonk Woman and Bonnie Tyler's 'I need a hero' to name just two) ........ what's growing up? :confused:

After all, no matter how old we all are, we're only grown up kids aren't we? :D

[BeeE586]

What a delightful read !

The worst day of my entire life was my fiftieth birthday. 49, 51 and onwards, no problem, but 50, oh dear, what a milestone it seemed !

60 was great, I was going to retire, buy a computer, and a friend and I would travel; Norway, USSR and Italy to start with and anything after that was a bonus, but we did also see a great deal of northern Europe. When airports became too much we toured England, Wales and Scotland by coach, visiting, amongst others, places with Record Offices pertinent to our research. When coach travel became too much I bought a static caravan on the Lincolnshire coast.

70 came and went almost un-noticed and this time next year I shall be eighty and there still aren't enough hours in the day for all I still want to do although I must admit everything does take just that little bit longer.

Keeping an active brain is part of the secret, of course, treasuring one's friends and family is vitally important, but my personal discovery has been not to hanker after the things that age and my disability do not allow me to do - rather to make the most of what I CAN still do.

As Rod says, growing up is not mandatory - I hope I am still young at heart, along with the 'oldies' and 'not so oldies' who post here

|cheers| to all of us

Eileen

Forgot to mention the joy I had from my three cats, Biscuit, Bruno and Bella, over about 25 years. Sadly I can no longer keep one, but have 'adopted' two at the local sanctuary.

[Patrisia]

I never seemed to have had a problem with those *0-something milestones, they just seemed to sneak up on me, while I was busy doing something else.
60-something arrived when I was still thinking I was 35 and in my prime! Now I am halfway to the big 7-O and with luck I will make it, still thinking I am 35 ;)

[QUOTE=BeeE586]
Keeping an active brain is part of the secret, of course, treasuring one's friends and family is vitally important, but my personal discovery has been not to hanker after the things that age and my disability do not allow me to do - rather to make the most of what I CAN still do.
QUOTE]

Eileen, you have put it so well. The only thing I hanker for these days, is more than 24 hours in the day!

[TerryK]

I`m approaching the 70 mark and have spinal arhritis but I look forward to every day. I don`t have to go to work, no youngsters to clothe and feed, no mortgage to pay. I decide what I want to do thatday,woodcarving,sculpture, painting, gardening, reading etc. Isn`t life great !
Who wants to be twenty one. ? Well, .....nah, we won`t go into that !
Regards
Terry

[Rove]

Beautful ........ beautiful

This is great poetry

William

[AnnB]

Well, from one who is sixteen on the inside and starts *dancing* whenever she hears her favourites being played, (e.g. Honky Tonk Woman and Bonnie Tyler's 'I need a hero' to name just two) ........ what's growing up? :confused:

After all, no matter how old we all are, we're only grown up kids aren't we? :D
And isn't it amazing how I can remember the words of said songs, but I can't even remember what I was doing this time last week :o

Best wishes
Ann

[IreneH]

I know that feeling Ann - can't remember what I did yesterday but remember things I learned at school. I look forward to the day I retire then I won't have to deal with the not so subtle hints that I'm old fashion in my work ethic.