Thursday Thoughts: Aging
I woke up this morning. That's a VERY good thing.
I woke up with a few aches and pains.
That's also a VERY good thing.
Why?
Because although I'm in the last third of my life -- or on the "back nine" as golfers say -- I continue to act as though I'm 20+ years younger. So yes, there are a few aches and pains to remind me of my biological age, but at least I'm still moving.
I know my age, but honestly, most times it's just a number. A number that seemed very far off when I was 15 or even 30.
But here it is, and here I am.
I remember some things about being like that little girl up top: I remember grade school, which I think I mostly liked. This was back in the '50s, and I remember learning to read and write. I remember the playgrounds and recess. I remember nice, friendly teachers including Mrs. Marsh, my first grade teacher.
Life was really simple then -- wasn't it? We played outside under the lights in the early dusk. We ran and screamed throughout our neighborhoods with the other kids who seemed to be just like us. We rolled down the hills; we played "Tag! You're It!"
Technology touched us, but lightly. The biggest deal in my family was having the first COLOR TV in the late '50s. No one else we knew had one, so our tiny den was crowded some evenings with the very few color shows being shown. I clearly remember watching Miss America in the mid '60s -- in color. What a treat!
Then we grew up into adults, our lives changing every day. We graduated from high school, some went on to college, we got jobs, and some even got married and had kids. We moved to the suburbs, joined the PTA or other organizations, and most of us women watched their husband go off to work while we stayed home.
How times have changed!
When I thought then about aging -- and it wasn't often -- I imagined being smaller in many ways. I thought my brain might not work. I was pretty sure my body wouldn't do what I wanted it to. I thought I'd be physically smaller or shorter (that is actually true now).
All my beliefs came from what I saw with my own parents and my friends' parents who seemed old at 60. When they were in their 70s they seemed REALLY old.
The men retired at 65 and pretty much slowed down to a crawl. In 1970 the U.S. life expentancy for men was 67.1 and for women it was 74.1. Way too many people retired and then just died.
In 2010 the figures were 76 and 81.
I didn't see aging as a positive thing back then, but of course now I do. We all know others who died way too soon, who were not allowed this privilege of aging. We are still here! We can still reinvent ourselves, take on new "jobs" whether paid or volunteer, or travel more. We are still relevant, which is just wonderful.
My brain still works. My body still works, even if I've lost a half step. I am still eager to face each day, to see what it brings that will delight me.聽
It's all good.
So as I wake up with a few aches and pains, as I wake up ON TOP OF THE DIRT, as I wake up seeing the sunrise and hearing the birds chirp, I remember this old maxim that pretty much works for me:
What are your thoughts on this touchy subject?
*********************************************
Thanks for taking the time to read this post. If you have enjoyed it, I hope you will share it with your connections, so they may enjoy it too. And please share your thoughts with us; I am always interested to see what my readers find valuable.聽
************
My previous posts can be seen here on my website,聽and specific ones are they're easy to find because they're categorized. Just type in a word in the search box on the topic you're looking for and see everything I wrote on it. 聽
************聽
Do the associates in your company look and sound as smart as they are?聽They would if they could take one of my Brush Up on Your Skills workshops right where they work. If your company hires outside experts to teach any topic to its associates, please share my posts and website with your Human Resources or Training Manager.聽
Do you belong to an association or other group that is looking for a speaker for one of its meetings? There are a lot of communication-based topics that could be perfect for a light-hearted and interesting presentation.聽
Would you like a free generic聽Brush Up on Your Skills workbook in a pdf format in American grammar, business writing, or interpersonal skills? They show what I teach in my three-hour corporate classes. Not all the answers for the quizzes are there, but if you read the information carefully, you'll learn a lot!
Let me know which one you woule like, and please send me your e-mail address. I won't use it for anything else.聽
Articles from Susan 馃悵 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
View blogUsing apostrophes in contractions 路 In English, anyway, we create contractions when we join two word ...
Are you familiar with this term? We're seeing evidence of them everywhere on social media, which is ...
Where do you get your ideas for articles? Do you see something, hear something, or react to somethin ...
Related professionals
You may be interested in these jobs
-
human resources specialist
Found in: beBee S2 US - 2 weeks ago
Department Of The Air Force Tinker AFB, United States Full timeSummary 路 Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information. 路 The primary purpose of this position is to is to serve as a senior Human Resources Specialist administering a variety of civilian personnel pro ...
-
General Manager
Found in: Lensa US 4 C2 - 1 day ago
Corecruitment Santa Monica, United StatesGeneral Manager 路 Salary: $80,000 - $85,000 路 Location: Santa Monica, CA 路 I am working with a client who is a fast-casual seafood restaurant looking for a General Manager to join their team for their new opening. They are a seafood restaurant renowned for its focus on sustainab ...
-
Retail Custodian
Found in: Lensa US 4 C2 - 1 day ago
Sam's Club Owensboro, United StatesPosition Summary...Are you ready to help shape a member's entire shopping experience by giving them a positive first and last impression? We are looking for people who take pride in their work to join our team. As a Maintenance Associate at Sam's Club, you are responsible for ens ...
Comments
Ken Boddie
7 years ago #6
Susan 馃悵 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
7 years ago #5
Far, far away, Paul \! For a looooooooooooong time. I think we are all lucky to live at a time when 60 is seen as NOT old, but rather the beginning of another chapter in our lives. My (adoptive) mother is 99, and trust me; except for the wrinkles you'd never guess her at more than about 85. Her sister, my favorite aunt, is 93, and you'd never come within 20 years of that. She's a remarkable woman: warm, loving, SHARP. I utterly adore that woman and hope to be half as wonderful at her age. So let's be our best for a long time to come, OK?
Susan 馃悵 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
7 years ago #4
Agreed on all of that, Kevin Pashuk! I stoop to pick up the dogs' food bowls and I feel it. Nothing big yet, but . . . and if you've learned anything about me in the almost two years I've been writing on LI and here, you know how much I appreciate being alive and kicking!
Susan 馃悵 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
7 years ago #3
David Grinberg, you crack me up, you know that? From what we hear and read, the Fountain of Youth is just a step away from reality! Yes, age is "just" a number, until you hit the higher numbers. You're far from that, of course, so let's talk in say . . . 20 years (I'll still be here, God willing). I will say old age can be delayed; there's no doubt about that for many of us lucky enough to be healthy. But it comes eventually. Just not yet, OK?
David B. Grinberg
7 years ago #2
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #1