As I have aged... 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 kinder to myself, and...

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

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 kinder 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 60s and 70s, 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 chose, 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 turning gray, 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.)

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

slatten49 wrote:

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 kinder 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 60s and 70s, 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 chose, 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 turning gray, 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.)

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderf... (show quote)

badbobby Loc: texas

slatten49 wrote:

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 kinder 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 60s and 70s, 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 chose, 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 turning gray, 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.)

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderf... (show quote)

just wait til you are really old
you wont like yourself so much then

Alicia Loc: NYC

badbobby wrote:

just wait til you are really old
you wont like yourself so much then

*******************
I guess I could be considered "really old" at 82 but I really like myself and am not afraid to state what I really think

The one thing I regret is that most of my younger-day friends have already passed and I have no one to consult when I have a question.

When I was young I really enjoyed speaking with older people and listening to their experiences and wisdom. Now I prefer the age group under 50 and have more in common with the younger age group. Tried the senior centers and dances and gave up because they think like old farts, do nothing with their lives and are just waiting around to die. And they call this I dignity. I'll stay with the young. Their minds are still alive and forward-looking rather than speaking with the old ones who feel that all the goodness in the world has passed.

badbobby Loc: texas

Alicia wrote:

******************* br I guess I could be consider... (show quote)

well Alicia
I guess 82 is pretty old
but not as old as 90
hey
I'm glad I'm still alive
and I'll go down kickin and screamin
but things are just not what they use to be

what i used to do all day
I dont even attempt now

hope you live to 120 or 30

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

badbobby wrote:

well Alicia
I guess 82 is pretty old
but not as old as 90
hey
I'm glad I'm still alive
and I'll go down kickin and screamin
but things are just not what they use to be

what i used to do all day
I dont even attempt now

hope you live to 120 or 30

The world is a better place for having you both h*****g with us

badbobby Loc: texas

slatten49 wrote:

The world is a better place for having you both h*****g with us

I have laboriously come to the conclusion
that you are a nice guy
even if you are a Jarhead
thank you Slat

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

badbobby wrote:

I have laboriously come to the conclusion
that you are a nice guy
even if you are a Jarhead
thank you Slat

Don't be too quick to judge, BB.

badbobby Loc: texas

slatten49 wrote:

Don't be too quick to judge, BB.

oh,
I've had time to at least notice one or two good things about ypu
though I am having a hard time recalling them
memory ,you know

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

badbobby wrote:

oh,
I've had time to at least notice one or two good things about ypu
though I am having a hard time recalling them
memory ,you know

Yeah, I've dealt with your memory loss before...in the form of forgetting poker debts.

Louie27 Loc: Peoria, AZ

badbobby wrote:

just wait til you are really old
you wont like yourself so much then

I do not know about you but I like the person I have turned into. I do not go about complaining and try to change the personality of those I know. I take them for who they are and not for what they think. I know people of different thinking but only think of them as friends not opponents. I forgive more readily and regard people less critically. I am now more upbeat than I have ever been. Life is wonderful no matter how much longer I live. Live, love and laugh no matter what happens.

moldyoldy

Alicia wrote:

******************* br I guess I could be consider... (show quote)

You must be Betty White.

badbobby Loc: texas

slatten49 wrote:

Yeah, I've dealt with your memory loss before...in the form of forgetting poker debts.

yes
I understand
I have of course forgiven you your debts to me
since the IOUs you wrote are evidently unredeemable

badbobby Loc: texas

moldyoldy wrote:

You must be Betty White.

moldy
don't rain on her party
she is evidently enjoying herself

badbobby Loc: texas

Louie27 wrote:

I do not know about you but I like the person I ha... (show quote)

and I'd call that a nice way to look at things Louie