Old Age - A Gift ?
 

Hello friends,

I had to share this with you, what a interesting and positive outlook on Old Age.

The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was
taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction,
she was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an
interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let her know.

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 gray 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&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 gray,
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!

For those who haven't seen, you may also want to view this, http://parentswish.com/site01/small.html they compliment one another

Papi & Patticake

OOOOOOOOOO I love this one, Papi!!
Would you mind if I shared it with a few people (outside of Yorkie Talk)?

Papi that is beautiful!!! As one who is considered old by many I too feel the freedom that comes with age. It is hard to look at ones old self in the mirror, but it's better than the alternative!!! Thanks for such insightful thoughts!

thought this might make you chuckle a bit ...
 

An old man was sitting on a bench at the mall.

A young man walked up to the bench and sat down.

He had spiked hair in all different colors: green, red, pink, blue,
yellow, purple.

The old man just stared. The young man said, "What's the matter old
timer, never done anything wild in your life?

The old man replied, "Got drunk once and had sex with a peacock. I was just wondering if you were my son." :wink:

Papi...that was wonderful!!!! Thanks for sharing that!!!

Papi...Thank you soooooooo much for sharing that with us all.....for the younger ones here........be happy and see what you have to look forward to...life is soooooo great......for those of us already here....Isn't it just wonderful that we have reached this prime age that some call old...but we still feel so young with all the knowledge ....(ok, minus the aches and pains) :p You only act as old as you feel...so may we all always feel young !!!!! God Bless and Love You All :hearts6: :hearts6:

I loved reading that! :) Papi, thank you for sharing that with us.

That was really beautiful. I was on the verge of tears because I was thinking about my mom.....

Thank you for sharing. :) There is so much truth in that. I'd like to say I think of my mom when I read it, but I'm thinking about me. LOL :D I hope to be more free each year that I live. :thumbup:

Thanks Papi For This Post
 

That was great Papi and so true, feel like that more everyday :D thanks for sharing this with us !

That was wonderful. I don't have to look in the mirror to remind myself of my age tho. Many years ago as my mother and i sat in the porch swing she held my hand and showed me the difference in the two. She said my hands used to be pretty and smooth like yours. Now sometimes when I'm washing dishes or just at work on the computer I realize I have Mama's hands now. It's not depressing at all, it's kind of comforting. Growing into your mother is not always a bad thing, it can be an honor. :)

Papi,
That was beautiful, just beautiful. Thank you for sharing :) :)

I was just talking to my dil about you this morning Papi and then came on YT and saw that you had posted....and what a wonderful post. I just read it outloud to my dil and now she knows too what a wonderful kind sweet man you are. Thank you Papi.

Thanks I needed that.