You think about life differently. There are cares you never paid much attention to when you were younger. It's as if one day you wake up to the shocking truth that you really are getting older. It happens when the roofing guy tries to sell you roof tiles guaranteed for 30 years, and you do the math. Uh Oh! Don't think I'll be needing those!
Your health for instance. That's a biggie. These days you find you can't go anywhere without that subject coming up. All around you are people on walkers, trundling their oxygen tanks around. The latest models in wheelchairs and sporty golf cart things are sad reminders of the days when you got around unaided. There's a certain -helplessness too in knowing your mind is that of a delayed 18-year-old, but the body simply continues on its path of destruction.
Money becomes a big thing too. Will you have enough when the ravages of time wreak their worst on you? Will you become a burden to your children, who have a whole lot of concerns with their own families? Will you end up in a nursing home, and can you afford that?
You can tell a lot of things by the weather too. I used to love the heat. Couldn't get enough of it, baking in the sun, slathered in coconut oil. Those were the good old days, before the protection of sun block lotion. Now, thanks to that, we have become really good clients for the dermatologists.
I don't love the heat any more. Neither do a lot of people I know. That seems to be part of the aging process too. It's like your body's thermostat gives inaccurate readings of what's comfortable.
On the other hand, I can't stand cold either. I like even temperatures -- preferably with rain every evening, and mild sun every day. That would be good.
I find most of the time I'm pretty content these days. I'm fortunate to be healthy, not to have any grey hairs, not to worry about makeup, just moisturizer and sunscreen. (We do learn from our mistakes!)
Just a couple of weeks ago I comforted two grieving Native Canadians who have lost their sparkling young grandchild.
She was one of four lovely young people, all passengers in a car driven by a 16-year-old. They lived, she died.
What a tragedy for the entire community to lose someone with so much potential.
She was their brightest open for the future, a role model for her peers.
So really, do you think it may be a good thing just to wake up thinking how you might be able to do something nice for someone today? Does worrying about tomorrow help, when life is so fleeting?
I can't remember thinking like this in my younger years.
Have you ever looked at a person on TV who is congratulated because she's turned 100-years-OLD? And I mean, we do think that's old. But in reality even her parrot will outlive her!
Do you feel a pang, wondering how she can be so darn pleased to still be around, when, lets face it, her life can't be too exciting? Do you wonder, with your relatively young mind, if you will ever be in her position?
We are a blip in history.
Years become meaningless after a while. If you're wise, you just enjoy the journey, learn and pass forward as much as you can.
If you can read this, even if you have to wear your glasses, take the message of living life to the fullest, laughing lots, being kind to others. and spread it far and wide. The world needs good role models, just like you.
Vicki