Worth a read…….
I FIRST STARTED READING THIS EMAIL AND WAS READING FAST UNTIL I REACHED THE THIRD SENTENCE. I STOPPED THEN AND STARTED OVER, READING SLOWER, AND THINKING ABOUT EVERY WORD… IT MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK.
So, please READ SLOWLY!
AND THEN IT IS WINTER
You know time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems like yesterday that I was young, just married, and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all those years went.
I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. But, here it is… the winter of my life, and it catches me by surprise… How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go? I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those “older people” were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.
But, here it is…my friends are retired and getting grey… they move slower and I see an older person in myself now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me… but, I see the great change… Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant…but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we’d be.
Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore… it’s mandatory! Cause if I don’t on my own free will… I just fall asleep where I sit!
And so… now I enter this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!! But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I’m not sure how long it will last… this I know, that when it’s over on this earth… it’s over. A new adventure will begin!
Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn’t done… things I should have done, but indeed, there are also many things I’m happy to have done. It’s all in a lifetime.
So, if you’re not in your winter yet… let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life, please do it quickly! Don’t put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can TODAY, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not!
You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life… so, LIVE FOR TODAY and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember.. and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!
“Life” is a GIFT to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one.
Remember: “It is Health that is real Wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.”
~Your kids are becoming you……but your grandchildren are perfect!
~Going out is good.. coming home is even better!
~You forget names… but it’s OK, because other people forgot they even knew you!!!
~You realize you’re never going to be really good at anything…. especially golf.
~The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don’t care to do them anymore.
~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It’s called “pre-sleep.”
~You miss the days when everything worked with just an “ON” and “OFF” switch..
~You tend to use more 4 letter words … “what?”…”when?”…???
~Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it’s not safe to wear it anywhere.
~You notice everything they sell in stores is “sleeveless?!”
~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.
~Everybody whispers.
~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet…. 2 of which you will never wear.
~But “Old” is good in some things:
Old Songs, Old movies …
and best of all, our dear …OLD FRIENDS!!
Stay well, “OLD FRIEND!”
Send this on to other “Old Friends” and let them laugh in agreement!
9Dorothy Gullick and 8 others
Recommend0 recommendationsPublished in Senior Chatters
I have seen this, Starlette, and it does bring things into perspective. I remember when I was younger I just wanted to leave school, Dad used to say,’once you do the years will fly by.’ Then I wanted to be 21 years old….well now I think, where have all the years gone? We do have to live our lives to the full. I am lucky to have reached the age that I am. I hope to go on for a few more years yet. Lovely Blog, Thank you
Hi Tania……many haven’t made it to this age so in that respect we are lucky…….but I personally do not want to live to be too old……always said its the quality of life and not the quantity……but anyway not a problem for me……tis 70 years to go before I reach my century…….but Shssssh…..don’t tell Rob or he will kick me off the site for being an underage scammer…….
Ha ha well I am younger than you , Star lol..I think we are very lucky to have reached the age that we are….was it 96 for you lol x
Cheeky Mare…lol..x
ha ha ..x
Indeed it was worth a read, Starlette.
I’ve not got to the dropping off in a chair whether I want to or not point, but I know it’s coming.
I can still do everything I could at 35………but…….It takes a lot longer and hurts a lot more either at the time, or if not, the next day.
On the bright side, I keep waking up above the grass so that’s always a plus.
..Hi Way……..One foot above ground is better than six foot under Way…..
Star yes that’s us alright. Its called the passing of time and we cannot stop it. 5 years ago I was running across the fields and down through the woods with next doors Alsations. Today if I feel up to it I may have a gentle stroll with them. Sad really but there it is.
Hi Jim……in such a short space of time the body changes…. buttttt……we are still here and using our brains, eyes and digits so all is not lost…….yet….
Thank you Star for this share. Laugh in agreement? I would suggest Howling in agreement…
Truth be said I find that these words do hit home with me. I can not count the times that I have asked myself where have the years gone. Like the email states, I to have done many things that I now wish I had not done. And have done things that I am proud to have done. This I hope to try and balance before my circle closes.
Recently while grocery shopping, I met up with a very good friend who works for the store where I shop. After our handshake and how are you greeting. We stand there in the veggie section and chit chat, smiling and winking at the ladies. He suddenly tells me with a smile; hey today is my Birthday! I congratulated him and asked how old ( lordy I hate this word! ) are you now? and he tells me with a big proud grinning smile, I am 59. Well, then I say welcome to the club! We shook hands again and I moved to continue with my shopping. Suddenly he calls out, Hey what club? I just smiled and waved and moved on. Moving through the rows of goods, looking and commenting to my self on prices, ingredients, chemicals, my thoughts returned to my friend and his birthday. 59? Lord that is young. Quickly memories returned to me as clear as glass of my 59th birthday. Wasn´` t that just yesterday? My God 6 yrs and it feels like just 6 minutes. I moved on and observed those around me, and could help thinking oh there goes a foxy lass smiling and chatting with other ladies and young Moms, who knows what the subject might have been, older gentlemen, some with frowns and irritated faces, or forgetful, what have I forgotten faces. and realizing that I too was a member of this older generation.
Finally, I was ready to pay my bill, so I jumped into line behind a young mother with a wonderful baby girl of 5 or 6 whos radiant smile would someday melt the heart of some handsome young man thereby forever holding him under her magic. What’s that now 60 yrs gone?
There sat my beloved friend checking purchases, exchanging platitudes as we inch forward, as he worked I could not help but notice his profile and saw so many similarities with myself and differences as well where I had wrinkles his face was smoother, where the stubble on his chin was a very lite grey mine was almost white. I was finally able to pay, with a chip card of course, also computers again, and we said our goodbyes and wishes for the next week where the routine would begin again. As I moved away he asked me quickly John, what club do you mean? then I did laugh and moved closer towards him and behind a hand, I whispered: ” You, my friend are now a member of the elite old grey bears club, I bid you welcome on behalf of all the brothers…” This club does actually exist to this very day in the town where I was raised, OGB. But then that is a story for another blog.
Once again Starlette thank you
Your very welcome Sailor…….funnily enough the only birthday I didn’t want to come was my 30th…….now I would happily walk through the fires of hell to be that age again……why oh why didn’t I appreciate the age I was at the time …..was something more spectacular going to happen the year after…… in the future……when I was 20, 30, 40……but wisdom came with life’s experiences and knocks, so now I try and use it in all manner of things…..Seize the Day……
A very interesting – and unfortunately so true – post!
Can recognize many of the
Whoops! this ran away from me before I finished my comment!! That is how slow
I am getting LOL.
Yes – very interesting and so true this post – and I can recognize many of the
changes – frustrating when you cannot recall a person’s name – especially when
it is someone close to you – and worrisome too. Quite often of course it is
related to tiredness/stress. And then there are those aches and pains
and fatigue that really inhibit your enthusiasm to participate in activities which
you enjoy……but that is LIFE – and we adjust and cope — because we have
to do so — What is the alternative! Live, Laugh and Enjoy each day as best
we can.
Hi GG……the alternative will come a lot faster if we give up…….I know you have to keep the mind active, it rules the body, the mind goes down and the body will quickly follow….positive thinking and a glass half full attitude…hard to do some days……but like you say….what’s the alternative……..bloody ageing sucks……lol…
Yes, never give up. Great blog Star, thank you 🙂
Hi Ma….once we give up then its all over……curtains as it were…lol….