The Gift of Years

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Kindle
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The Gift of Years

Post by Kindle »

Are the years we live a gift or a burden? For the purpose of discussion let us exclude serious health issues and only include the normal issues of aging in the average person.

For those who will one day die “from old age, they will have come through a journey of learning what it is to age, to be older, to be old and then to become an elder in society.

Some people, despite their chronological age, do not “feel old, but never-the-less they will at some point realize that they cannot elude and escape becoming old. They do not feel old in their own minds, but they become old in the view the world has of them. They are now “seniors or “the elders, the gray or white heads, “the retired and eventually, “the old.



With the advent of science, many of us may spend nearly as many years “retired as we once did working. How many of us have given thought to what these years may hold for us – that is, beyond providing financially for ourselves.

Growing old and not working is uncharted territory for most people. Are these years just to exist in until the end, or is there a plan for this new phase. Life is always a series of new beginnings. Growing older and then old is just another beginning.

If growing older is not just a matter of the number of years one lives, what would you say is the purpose for these years?




"Out, damned spot! out, I say!"

- William Shakespeare, Macbeth, 5.1
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Oscar Namechange
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The Gift of Years

Post by Oscar Namechange »

I refuse to get old,wear sensible clothing and stop dancing in my knickers.

The body packs up at some time, that's for certain but age is a state of mind. :-6
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
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OpenMind
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The Gift of Years

Post by OpenMind »

I think my neighbours next door to me where I used to live in Bedford had it right. They retired comfortably in a village where they had lived all their lives. They keep a lovely garden and travel wherever the fancy takes them. They have many grandchildren, some of whom live abroad, and who they visit often. They enjoy themselves doing what takes their fancy. They both love a good gossip over the garden fence. They seem to have plenty to keep themselves occupied.
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Lon
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The Gift of Years

Post by Lon »

Kindle;1120365 wrote: Are the years we live a gift or a burden? For the purpose of discussion let us exclude serious health issues and only include the normal issues of aging in the average person.



For those who will one day die “from old age, they will have come through a journey of learning what it is to age, to be older, to be old and then to become an elder in society.



Some people, despite their chronological age, do not “feel old, but never-the-less they will at some point realize that they cannot elude and escape becoming old. They do not feel old in their own minds, but they become old in the view the world has of them. They are now “seniors or “the elders, the gray or white heads, “the retired and eventually, “the old.



With the advent of science, many of us may spend nearly as many years “retired as we once did working. How many of us have given thought to what these years may hold for us – that is, beyond providing financially for ourselves.



Growing old and not working is uncharted territory for most people. Are these years just to exist in until the end, or is there a plan for this new phase. Life is always a series of new beginnings. Growing older and then old is just another beginning.



If growing older is not just a matter of the number of years one lives, what would you say is the purpose for these years?


I think I qualify as being old at 74, but certainly don't feel old (except the knees occasionally). I've been retired for 17 years and plan on another 20 with a decent quality of life. When I reach that goal, I will have been retired longer than the career from which I retired. Thus far, the retirement journey has been a blast, much travel, much activities, good wines, good food, enjoying grandchildren and just recently a great granchild. Is there a purpose? I don't rightly know and don't worry about it. I think however that I may have impacted a few lives in a postive way on my journey through life, for me that's sufficient.



THOUGHTS AND TRAVELS
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Kindle
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The Gift of Years

Post by Kindle »

Lon;1120715 wrote: I think I qualify as being old at 74, but certainly don't feel old (except the knees occasionally). I've been retired for 17 years and plan on another 20 with a decent quality of life. When I reach that goal, I will have been retired longer than the career from which I retired. Thus far, the retirement journey has been a blast, much travel, much activities, good wines, good food, enjoying grandchildren and just recently a great granchild. Is there a purpose? I don't rightly know and don't worry about it. I think however that I may have impacted a few lives in a postive way on my journey through life, for me that's sufficient.



THOUGHTS AND TRAVELS


What a lovely blog. You sure seem to be doing it right........:-6




"Out, damned spot! out, I say!"

- William Shakespeare, Macbeth, 5.1
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chonsigirl
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The Gift of Years

Post by chonsigirl »

Age is a mind perspective. The body may be limited in some things, but the mind is not, unless you let it. Lon has the right attitude, I hope to have that when I retire.

I am more than half-way through my life, and I expect all the best times to be ahead of me.
kayleneaussie
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The Gift of Years

Post by kayleneaussie »

I have enjoyed the years I have been alive, sure there are ups and downs but I feel the years I have been alive and the years down the track are for learning enjoying and giving. As a foster carer I feel i am giving a child in need lots of love and guidance and this is the path I hope to continue as these children are our future generation:-4
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cars
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The Gift of Years

Post by cars »

Kindle;1120365 wrote: Are the years we live a gift or a burden? For the purpose of discussion let us exclude serious health issues and only include the normal issues of aging in the average person.



For those who will one day die “from old age”, they will have come through a journey of learning what it is to age, to be older, to be old and then to become an elder in society.



Some people, despite their chronological age, do not “feel old”, but never-the-less they will at some point realize that they cannot elude and escape becoming old. They do not feel old in their own minds, but they become old in the view the world has of them. They are now “seniors” or “the elders”, the gray or white heads, “the retired” and eventually, “the old”.



With the advent of science, many of us may spend nearly as many years “retired” as we once did working. How many of us have given thought to what these years may hold for us – that is, beyond providing financially for ourselves.



Growing old and not working is uncharted territory for most people. Are these years just to exist in until the end, or is there a plan for this new phase. Life is always a series of new beginnings. Growing older and then old is just another beginning.



If growing older is not just a matter of the number of years one lives, what would you say is the purpose for these years?
Well at the end of this month I'll be retired "4" years, I can't believe that! The time has just flown bye! As my retired friends used to tell me before I retired, every day is Saturday & Sunday! And man-o-man, they were so very right, they are! However, in addition to good health, there has to be enough money available in retirement to fully enjoy it! So as to be able to travel, dine out, (casino it) pay all the bills, and have no financial worries. Because "time", without "money", is not such a good thing! Fortunately for the mrs & me, we're financially comfortable, and we make the most of it all! Every Saturday & Sunday!

(A little friendly advise to you youngsters out there: save, save, save, for your retirement! Because it just kinda sneaks up on you when you're not looking, & one day, walla, you find yourself retired!)
Cars :)
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