Growing Old Disgracefully
(the art of being a happy and healthy Senior Citizen)
(the art of being a happy and healthy Senior Citizen)
So you are, or about to reach, the autumn years. You have turned 50, 60, 70, 80 or whatever. Life’s over then, get the pipe and slippers out and tighten your hernia truss eh?
Not a bit of it!
Sure, the hair may be more salt than pepper, the eyesight slightly dimmer.
I know, I know… pregnant woman are starting to give up their seat for you on the local bus, but don’t panic, all is not lost.
I’m going to explore what it means to be elderly, what growing old means to those who are not already there, and what it’s really like for those of us who have reached the giddy heights of senior citizenship.
It is said that age is only a number, and I aim to show you how this is largely true.
Much of feeling old is more mental attitude than physical.
Of course the ravages of time do affect our physical abilities, but not so much as you may think. Of course people differ, but the basics remain:
Think old, be old.
Now, I’m not suggesting you run out and get a buzz haircut, and start wearing shorts to show off that brand new tattoo on your inner thigh.
Nor am I advocating you go and join the Old Folks Club and immerse yourself in tea dances and occupational therapy.
No! No! No!
But…. There are ways that you can enjoy a new life focus, and treat later life as just another platform to develop new ideas, new thinking, and new enjoyments that you didn’t have the time for in earlier years.
Think of the advantages you have — no children to mind, no work to worry about, sometimes debt free etc.
Better still, in general, people become tolerant to oldies doing strange un-old activities.
Believe me; you can get away with murder! (well, not literarily)
You should explore what old age is, how it feels really, as opposed to what you imagined before it happened.
The way you approach this stage in life has a great bearing on whether you have an eventful and enjoyable journey, or whether you have just reluctantly hitched a ride and are awaiting the final destination with trepidation.
In following articles, I will discuss health, fitness, happiness and other goodies pertinent to this peculiar situation called old age we all eventually find ourselves in.
Trust me, I’m a senior person!
So please join me on this journey.
I welcome your input, suggestions, anecdotes etc.
If you want to just grumble and moan about the weather, well .. that’s OK too.
