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Old Age, I decided, is a gift.



I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.



I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less grey hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind 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 60's & 70's, 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 choose 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 grey, 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)

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!

MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER!

FRIENDS FOREVER!

My friend just sent me this email and I thought id share it with you all:-6

Chezzie;766059 wrote: Old Age, I decided, is a gift.



I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.



I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less grey hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind 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 60's & 70's, 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 choose 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 grey, 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)

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!

MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER!

FRIENDS FOREVER!

My friend just sent me this email and I thought id share it with you all


Oi.....did you nick that from me:-5:-5I better get the focers on you.....grrrrrrrr...Gill will GO MAD......:wah::wah::wah:;)

RIGHT IM READY!!!

That was lovely Chezzie, thanks for sharing it.



People dread old age, I think they dread dying really but if you've lived a full life death is just the next step.



I think a life that has been full, a wealth of memories, some great adventures and lots of love and laughter are the bonuses of getting older - bring it on!!!



Also, I fully intend to pretend to be deaf and batty to wind my family up!!

Imladris;766068 wrote: That was lovely Chezzie, thanks for sharing it.



People dread old age, I think they dread dying really but if you've lived a full life death is just the next step.



I think a life that has been full, a wealth of memories, some great adventures and lots of love and laughter are the bonuses of getting older - bring it on!!!



Also, I fully intend to pretend to be deaf and batty to wind my family up!!


I dont have to pretend Imladris:rolleyes:;)

Hope I can type this ok:wah:An old man is in hospital and a righr dishy sexy lady doctor goes to him.She takes his hand and says in a deep sexy voice......say 99.....he looks at her and sighs 99......she then took hold of his head and says.....say 99.....he sighs again.....99.................she then puts her hands on his cheast and again says......say 99.........the old boy is in heaven now and again sighs .......99........she then puts her hands under his bed cover and takes his manhood(not the right word but better not put that one here:wah:) and says .....say 99............he looks at her, winks and says........................1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,.........................................................................:wah::wah::wah::p

Its a good message that was sent to you... and so much of it captures the essence of how aging really is. I do indulge in many of the rituals described.

I JUST GOT UP!!!!:)

:-6 Excellent it describes the process so well. I would have never believed I would have gotten this old in my 20's, here I am soon to be 61 and enjoying every minuted of it.

I was thinking about the same thing the other day. If our life is like a book, some of us are not quite in the last chapter yet.........but we do think about it once in awhile. Everything you said in your post Chezzie goes for me, too. I am a quiet person most of the time..who likes to observe. But every once in awhile, I can make a little noise and dance and just enjoy the moment.

i too dreaded old age ,i dont like the aches and pains,or the inability to go from one job to another(we are geriatric at 40 employers think)i work hard to keep my bodey and mind youthfull,but what i do like is that after going thru lifes school of hard knocks ,ime afraid of sod all.my confidence is the thing i like most about being middle aged,we can say to consultants things like "who do you think your talking to?"or when we have had a bad bereavment we know no,one can hurt us again as much,nah its ok being a silver surfer.nice thread by the way ta