There is an old song that begins “when I was 17, it was a very good year” and ends with “when I was 65 and in the autumn of my life.” Now I look back to when I was 65 and realize how unprepared I was for the experience – so unprepared that I didn’t change a thing. I still got up before 6:00 a.m., ate breakfast, went to the gym and then to the office. Now, ten years later, my routine hasn’t changed.
I like to think that I am still the same person, with the same energy and activity level, that I have always been, but every little once in a while nature comes calling. That stitch in my back wasn’t there yesterday; frequently, I have to go through the evolutionary cycle when I get up from my chair; and my hair has turned an absolutely stunning mixture of brown, gray and white. Yet, I know I am truly blessed that my routine has changed so little.
However, and you knew there would be a “however”, as another old song says “the times they are a changing.” Things we took for granted and goals we once set look a little different from this side of the magic age of 65. Now instead of striving for the big house and garden we are downsizing. After years of saving precious heirlooms, dishes, furniture and _________ (you fill in the blank) for our children we find out they don’t want that “stuff.” Imagine, now it’s “stuff.” Instead of eagerly anticipating a visit to the latest “all you can eat” buffet, we settle for sharing a single meal at a favorite neighborhood restaurant. A good night’s sleep means we only got up twice and slept at least five hours.
If you want to really see how the mind can play tricks on you as you age, here is a simple experiment. Stand flat footed on a curb with your toes toward the street. Then from that flat-footed position use both feet to jump down onto the street. (If you don’t have a curb handy the bottom step of any staircase will suffice.) Now it’s only about four to six inches down, but your mind is saying “I’m not going to do that.” You have to concentrate and force yourself. The same mental block exists when you stand on the street flat footed and attempt to jump up onto the curb. You know you can do it, but the mind gets in the way. Try it yourself. It’s a great topic for conversation.
Yes indeed, becoming a senior citizen has been an experience. I guess everything is relative. How we lived our life to this point has a whole lot to say about how we will live it from here on out. I’m excited to see what’s next.
…………………………………more to come.
What changes have you noticed in your life as the years pass by?