Why Growing Older is So Much Fun
I actually like getting older. Sure there are some aches and pains (and health issues that can be serious and scary), but there are also many compensations.
1. Life is shorter, so you appreciate it more. We appreciate the beautiful touches of everyday life — the smells, the weather, the beauty around us. That’s why many older people smile so much and look contented.
2. No one cares how we look, so we don’t need spend time or money fussing over appearance. No more shopping, looking in the mirror, being concerned about how others see us. We’re comfortable in our skin, as wrinkled and saggy as it might be. We can use the clothes we have for the rest of our lives, and they will get very soft and comfy.
3. Because we use up less things, we’re more environmentally responsible. We’re not interest in buying – we’re interested in divesting. We eat less and use less – we are making room for the next generation.
4. We have finally achieved self-confidence and don’t care what people think. By and large, older people have gained a deep feeling of confidence through a lifetime of experience. Having experience helps reduce stress, so in general, we’re more relaxed and our lives are more stress-free.
5. We’re not interested in living long, we’re interested in living well. Older people are more relaxed about the prospect of dying, maybe because we’re closer to it, and feel that we’ve really lived. It’s very obvious that younger people are obsessed with death and fear it. We elders laugh at death. It’s a black joke that we share. We elders are appreciative of each day we have, and the rich memories we’ve stored.
6. We don’t sweat the little stuff. Being older gives us a more nuanced value system. We have experience. We know what is important. If something doesn’t go the way we wanted or expected it to, what an adventure! We have learned that life can be unpredictable, and that sometimes, surprising things happen when we stop holding so hard to our preconceived thoughts and expectations.
So the secret is out. Getting old is fun, and not to be feared.
Laurie,
I’ve read several of your blogs and have enjoyed every one. This one in
particular is well thought out, and comports with my reality very well. I
had to retire to come to some of these realizations, so I’ m impressed that you have seen the light even before retirement.
Best,
Robert
Hi Laurie,
You have a view of getting older that is based on practicing law in your own law firm; Bob Kroll (your first responder), shares with you the luxury of also being in a special situation – being retired. For those who are “older” and fortunate enough to have a job working for the “man”, they too are also among the fortunate! Although not very secure. As for myself, and many others who are over 50 and unemployed – we don’t see being older in quite the same way.
We have to concern ourselves with maintaining the proper appearance – both in terms of clothes and physically because we need to make / keep ourselves marketable. This takes a lot of work! Growing older” and having “fun” is not the same for those of us who made decisions long ago to go the “corporate” route and find ourselves over 50 and unemployed. Life for us is not as much “fun” and we feel like we lost a game of “musical chairs” and may not get a chance to play again. Unfortunately, too many people that I know, including myself, do not have jobs and are without the prospect of getting a job in the near future.
Consider yourself fortunate for having made the right decision!
My BEST,
Ray