I'm clearly in the 'old' category as I'm 67 and a great grandma, but my age doesn't define me in any way. I'm not at all bothered about being considered old and like you Jo, I've experienced quite a few very difficult life events and losses that have shaped me. I'm totally happy with who I am and accept I've got less years ahead of me than I've already lived. My 97 year old mother in law is coming to the end of her life, but I can see the whole cycle of life as she withdraws from us. She's always been the most spirited, independent woman and I love and admire her; it's when our loved ones die far too young that it's so very difficult 😘
Best thing about ageing is that I don't have to take life seriously if I don't want - with all the eccentricity that I want.
The worst is that the body IS starting to wear out - sadly.
Five things about ageing? Not needing to fit into some societal category. Being free to live life my way. Seeing life more clearly. Moving on from those who don't make me feel mellow any more and feeling no guilt for moving on. A certain amount of wisdom and experience.
Thank you for sharing your story. I enjoyed reading your post. To me, age is just a number. Some of my friends never got to be thirty, a few never made it to sixty. My mum lived to 92. I hope I do as well. I am grateful to be living my life the way that I want to. Life is what you make it. Dream and take chances, do what makes you happy even if everyone else thinks that you have lost the plot! All the best.
Thank you for your honest reflections, dear Jo. I am definitively old too, and next year I will have one of those "big" birthdays. I agree with you re owning our age, and I too deplore the way our, mainly western?, society views old people. Personally, sometime I feel ageless, but as soon as I try to get up from a chair or a bed, that illusion is shattered :).
Thank you Lucia, I know exactly what you mean about feeling ageless until you get out of the chair. Although I never feel a particular number of years, I am not ashamed they are over 10, 20, 39 or even 60. 😘😘
Negatives: Dealing with people in my life who treat me unkindly. My landlady is that example and I wish I could get the witch fired. Jo, you already know who I hate, loathe, and despise so I won't go on about him.
I love being old. To me it means I must have done something right. BTW, the hair on my head is still blonde!
Thank you, Jo. You already know how much I appreciate you and your thought processes. You help to calm my anxieties.
Hi Richard I am so sorry about your landlady that must be hard. Thank you as ever for your very kind words 😘😘 ps I would describe my hair as pepper & salt 😁
Loved your title, and your reasons for it. I dithered very briefly (about 5 sec) about using aging in the title of my newsletter being "Aging Author's Daily Diversions," but my love of alliteration was too great, and I had never hidden, but rather celebrated the fact that I had started my second career as an author as I was turning 60. Then I would have said I was an older adult, but I confess having turned 75 after a rather difficult 2 years health-wise, I am rather more comfortable with ancient adult, which I will use proudly from now on. But I wonder if at some point I should change the newsletter to Aged Author... (smile.) As usual, thanks for writing these posts, I love reading them.
Sarah looked so happy in that photograph and I can completely understand not being able to accept her death. She was beautiful and my heart goes out to you.
I enjoyed your ‘long rambling’ - your writing is very inspiring and thought provoking.
I'm clearly in the 'old' category as I'm 67 and a great grandma, but my age doesn't define me in any way. I'm not at all bothered about being considered old and like you Jo, I've experienced quite a few very difficult life events and losses that have shaped me. I'm totally happy with who I am and accept I've got less years ahead of me than I've already lived. My 97 year old mother in law is coming to the end of her life, but I can see the whole cycle of life as she withdraws from us. She's always been the most spirited, independent woman and I love and admire her; it's when our loved ones die far too young that it's so very difficult 😘
Thank you Karen, 97 is an amazing age she must have seen so many changes. Nonetheless it is hard losing someone close at any age 😘😘
I'm me. That's my category.
Best thing about ageing is that I don't have to take life seriously if I don't want - with all the eccentricity that I want.
The worst is that the body IS starting to wear out - sadly.
Five things about ageing? Not needing to fit into some societal category. Being free to live life my way. Seeing life more clearly. Moving on from those who don't make me feel mellow any more and feeling no guilt for moving on. A certain amount of wisdom and experience.
Hi Prue I agree with everything you say. Yes the body doesn’t bounce back as well and your list is great 😘😘
Memoir to make sense of your life is a great reason for writing, Jo.
I understand what you say about "accommodating" your daughter's death four years ago, not accepting it. So sorry.
Thank you Wendy accommodating is a more accurate word in my mind 😘😘
Thank you for sharing your story. I enjoyed reading your post. To me, age is just a number. Some of my friends never got to be thirty, a few never made it to sixty. My mum lived to 92. I hope I do as well. I am grateful to be living my life the way that I want to. Life is what you make it. Dream and take chances, do what makes you happy even if everyone else thinks that you have lost the plot! All the best.
Thank you Rosie, and you are right do what makes you happy 😘😘
Thank you for your honest reflections, dear Jo. I am definitively old too, and next year I will have one of those "big" birthdays. I agree with you re owning our age, and I too deplore the way our, mainly western?, society views old people. Personally, sometime I feel ageless, but as soon as I try to get up from a chair or a bed, that illusion is shattered :).
Thinking of you and Sarah xx
Thank you Lucia, I know exactly what you mean about feeling ageless until you get out of the chair. Although I never feel a particular number of years, I am not ashamed they are over 10, 20, 39 or even 60. 😘😘
I describe my age at 79 as 'elderly gentleman '.
My negatives and positives:
Negatives: Dealing with people in my life who treat me unkindly. My landlady is that example and I wish I could get the witch fired. Jo, you already know who I hate, loathe, and despise so I won't go on about him.
I love being old. To me it means I must have done something right. BTW, the hair on my head is still blonde!
Thank you, Jo. You already know how much I appreciate you and your thought processes. You help to calm my anxieties.
Richard
Hi Richard I am so sorry about your landlady that must be hard. Thank you as ever for your very kind words 😘😘 ps I would describe my hair as pepper & salt 😁
👏👏👏
Loved your title, and your reasons for it. I dithered very briefly (about 5 sec) about using aging in the title of my newsletter being "Aging Author's Daily Diversions," but my love of alliteration was too great, and I had never hidden, but rather celebrated the fact that I had started my second career as an author as I was turning 60. Then I would have said I was an older adult, but I confess having turned 75 after a rather difficult 2 years health-wise, I am rather more comfortable with ancient adult, which I will use proudly from now on. But I wonder if at some point I should change the newsletter to Aged Author... (smile.) As usual, thanks for writing these posts, I love reading them.
Thank you Louisa you are a very inspiring ancient adult 😘😘
Many thanks for the mention, Jo! It's quite a thing, when one looks into the whole age, ageing, ageism, old stuff, isn't it!
It’s a minefield 😁😘
Sarah looked so happy in that photograph and I can completely understand not being able to accept her death. She was beautiful and my heart goes out to you.
I enjoyed your ‘long rambling’ - your writing is very inspiring and thought provoking.
Thank you so much for such lovely comments Rosy, Sarah was a one off as we all are 😘😘