COMMENTS

22 responses to “Open Thread Update: Favorite Things About Aging”

1. Creating new projects and initiatives without having to dodge, surmount or battle other peoples’ politics and policies.

   Reply to WENDL

2. I’ve adopted what I call the EE ratio. Enjoyment must be greater than Effort for me to engage. I’ve paid my dues, done what I had to, but older age is a time for me – that doesn’t mean I’m selfish, but I do the things that give me pleasure (and helping others is a major thing for me). So as long as the Enjoyment I get is greater than the Effort I have to expend – I go for it!

   Reply to Adele Ostfield

3. These years are not golden to me. I’m 76 and very isolated – which I know is my fault, That’s why I am joining this group to meet people.

   Reply to Patricia Matthews

4. I’m 78 and I’m going back to work- part time! I’ve had a wonderful retirement but lost my husband about a year ago. My days can be lonely even if I have things to do and places to go. I love the freedom now of making my decisions for the good of me. While I loved and miss my husband, I know he would want me to do anything I felt I wanted. Now I want to challenge myself. It’s time to learn something new.

   Reply to Billie Lucille Jordan

5. No more alarms. Time is not important where I live. I retired in Cuenca Ecuador. Being elderly here is great. There are separate lines for the eldery in banks, grocery stores, government buildings. If you are over 65 there are many discounts you receive. Being elderly in Ecuador is a good thing.

   Reply to Michelle Bryan

6. No more alarms. If I want to do something today but end up not doing it there’s always tomorrow. I retired in Cuenca Ecuador where life is slow and time is just a word not a actual action. Here in Ecuador the elderly are treated very well. There are separate lines for us at banks, grocery stores, government buildings. If your over 66 there are many perks in this country for you..

   Reply to Michelle Bryan

7. Agree with Linda and Joy above. The freedom to wear what is comfortable and not to fuss with my appearance if I don’t feel like it are game changers for me. I refuse to wear anything uncomfortable anymore. The absence of trying to look a certain way or portray a professional or fashionable image has relieved me of so much emotional, financial, and time constraints.

   Reply to Maureen

8. I identify with ALL the replies above!
   Additionally, at just 70 1/2 years of age, I have given myself permission to practice “untethering of my soul” fully when I become aware I “need” to in order to maintain my experiential sense of self. Finally, I will take the time and make the effort in realtime to free myself of burdensome baggage.

   Reply to Gerry Lynn

9. I am excited by the freedom to explore ideas and activities that work constraints never made possible. If I want to learn how to kayak and go on trip through tidewater there is nothing to stop me but the weather. If I want to take classes that have no utilitarian application I do so with vigor. I haven’t felt this free from constraint since my freshman year in undergraduate school. The sex is better now , too.

   Reply to csonnabend@verizon.net

10. Retirement is the best part of aging. Not having to ever tolerate the bad behavior of supervisors and managers. Being able to go where I want, when I want and take classes without having to worry about taking off work. It’s great!

    Reply to Kim Roth

11. At 73, the freedom of not caring so much what others think about me or my opinions. The mature self confidence that only comes with years lived.

    Reply to Joanne Nemitz

12. I can think of nothing I like about getting older. The golden years are fool’s gold.
    Agism abounds. My neighborhood in Brooklyn has no one with whom to be friendly…no English speakers. I do feel that having some realistic–okay a bit cynical, acquaintances ( gotta start somewhere before you can call anyone friend) might be somewhat beneficial to brighten my point of view.

    Reply to Marcia

13. Absolutely, it is the fact that I FINALLY started doing what I want to do, and stopped trying to please my husband. For 29 years, I tried and tried to make him happy, to please him. He is just a negative person, and all that happened was that I was very unhappy. I cried a lot. I am an intelligent professional woman, and I gave him so much. Now I do things that I want to do, and I don’t let it bother me that he’s negative about everything, every day.

    Reply to Joanne

    1. Good for you Joan for making your happiness a priorty

       Reply to Gaynell Gabriel

    2. I relate so much to your comment Joanne. When I get together with my book club, my prayer group, the wellness group, or the group of coworkers I’ve stayed in contact with for meetings or dining out – I no longer stress over my husband saying, “What am I going to do?” We do things together, but he has to find his way individually.

       Reply to Joyce Lee

14. I am now 71. A few years ago I said to my niece I hope you won’t let yourself be put down to keep the peace or keep a boyfriend.
    She looked at me incredulously and said why would I do that?
    I thought, “You go girl.” I knew she would be okay in life.

    Reply to Brenda

15. Being comfortable in my own skin. Wearing makeup or going makeup free, enjoying my natural hair color, experimenting with different fashion styles, etc. Before I retired, I dressed and did my makeup and hair based on what I thought others expected of me. It’s nice to just be my authentic self.

    Reply to Linda Riemer

    1. That is so true, I did exactly the same thing, at work and out, even at the grocery store. The only thing around the house I enjoy going braless. It’s like you are in my head. Enjoy retirement , I sure am!

       Reply to Debra T

16. Love this, Virge. My favorite thing about getting older is the wonderful peace I feel while out in public. As a 65 plus active woman I spent years dealing with catcalls and whistles, inappropriate remarks, and sometimes groping. It’s as if I’m finally enjoying the anonymity of being male. I’m loving it. I’ve never understood why so many men harrass women.

    Reply to Joy H

17. I have to agree with your comment and add an additional remark. I’m 74 and I feel that accountability or lack of accountability teaches us very important lessons. This is a means to growth and change. If someone must be accountable (including me), they’re more invested and earnest about what they’re doing. I set my boundaries for my own personal well-being and I firmly believe others will truly benefit from setting their own boundaries and accountability expectations as well.

    Reply to Lisa

18. One of my favorite things is honoring my values about what’s worth my time. I used to try things because people said “you should” or “I think you’d like this.” Now, with 65 years of life experience, I trust I have a strong idea about what might please me. I’ll be polite if I decline a suggestion or request, but I don’t leave it negotiable.

    Reply to Zig Williams

19. The wisdom acquired.

    Reply to Rolanda Pyle