How Much do We Think About the Aging Process?

Seeing that I turn 82 this year, I got to thinking about various things that pop into my mind when thinking about the aging process. Things I might add, I probably should have begun thinking about several years ago. But, hey – I am not the sharpest tack in the box and as the saying goes “Better Late than Never!”

So, what things should we consider? Age, beauty, physical shape, and so forth!

I am sure that many individuals might say beauty, attractiveness, and so forth and I might have considered that. But truth be told, let’s face it, despite our best efforts to “stay in shape”, chances are our booty sags, our bellies expand, and the attractiveness we may have had many years ago gives way as might be expected when one thinks of what we know as “The Circle of Life!” Wrinkles – as much as most of us do not relish them – tell a story if but one takes the time to read them. One might even say that the lines and wrinkles in our face have been earned and we should look upon them as a face map (roadmap if you will) reflecting where we’ve been and depending on circumstances also reflect how we’ve weathered the journey.

Another thing I have noticed during this aging process is how both our energy and priorities change the older we get. I can remember when I had a strict schedule that I followed religiously but that has sort of disappeared over the years. However, that is not all bad. Energy that is waning should be looked upon as a hint that we need to “prioritize” those things that are truly important at this stage of our lives. While our hearts may suggest that we do this or that and believe me when I say that, at times, intentions of the heart may be very strong – we must keep in mind that aging has the tendency to affect the energy one must have in order to accomplish those intentions. How do we do that? One way I do it is to journal about what I consider to be important at this time of my life.

My list is somewhat short and probably shorter than many others at this stage in life, but nonetheless, having such a list enables me to wake up each morning and face each day with a smile. What is on my list? Things like:

Stretch daily and have a daily step goal I try to meet day in and day out.

Spend time looking and taking in what mother nature has provided us.

Writing every morning.

Eating right 24/7 which means making sure I stay hydrated; eat healthy foods that will sustain me (but allow myself to indulge on a truly special occasion).

Finally, face up to the fact that even though we might be in our sixties, seventies, or eighties and beyond we must recognize the fact that:

We need to find what gives us a sense of purpose. What is truly fulfilling and satisfying to us every day.

What’s on our bucket list, if we even have one and if not, why not make one?

Recognizing the fact that we only go around one time I must ask the question:  

What, at this point in my life, do I truly consider to be important for the time I have left?

Live life to the fullest because none of us know what tomorrow might bring.

Until next time!

Reflection

It baffles me how one’s mind can go off on some wild and crazy adventure when confined to their home as we have been doing under our Governor’s “stay at home” order, but occasionally I do allow it to happen. Were we to ask why the “stay at home” order, not that the news hasn’t been informing us of it 24/7, we would be told it is to “flatten the curve” of this dreaded disease we are all facing now called Covid-19.

Believe me when I say that I am, in no way making fun of this serious, deadly disease. On the contrary, I do my best to think up ways to cope with it via humor, hence the statement “go off on some wild and crazy adventure”.

The entire time we have been in sort of a “lockdown” type scenario I have had time to revisit some of the books I read way back when. Back then – reading was either required by our teachers or it was something fun we enjoyed doing to get away from it all.

Not knowing what our world will be like when this whole pandemic thing is over, I am reminded of a book authored by Aldous Huxley entitled “Brave New World.” That is what we seem to be going through at the moment and my educated guess is that once – how shall I put this – the curve is flattened – well, it might just be a brave new world we will have to become familiar with.

Seeing that most senior citizens are not considered essential workers, my guess is that it is safe to assume that most of us have been “hunkering down”, if you will, within the confines of our own homes. In doing so, we are probably trying our darnedest to determine what to do with our time. After all, there are only so many “Honey-Dos” or “Projects” that kept being put on the back burner that can be done.

Part of my 24/7 “hunkering down” time has been trying my best to write humorous posts to share with you all.

While I have not as yet gone over to the Dark Side (Darth Vader) I ask you to take a walk with me as we peer in on a scenario that might just be one that we will either go through in the near future or one we may have already experienced.

And so it begins:

It is 2:30 a.m. Friday morning, the sky is clear with no stars in the sky and all is quiet on this little unknown street that many living in the community still have difficulty trying to find when need be. If you look carefully, you can still see the moon high in the sky.

Is that light I see within the kitchen window of Unit # 252? One would think that at this hour of the night everyone would be sleeping, everyone apparently, except a certain person at # 252.

Be quiet as you carefully slip up to the house and peer through the window.

Sitting at the kitchen table with the light shining dimly above him, sits a retired underwriting manager with writing journal wide open on the table in front of him, pen in hand, as he appears to be writing his life story.

As you take this picture in, you notice how he is dressed, a raggedly T-shirt, and a pair of old torn grey sweatpants. Looking at his appearance you cannot tell if he is Oscar from the Odd Couple or Jed Clampett from the Beverly Hillbillies.

Watching as he apparently strains to think up the next sentence or entry he wants to write, your guess is that his eyes are bloodshot from lack of sleep. Looking at his hair you notice it is so tangled up even a rat tail comb would have problems combing it. From the wrinkles seen in these so-called pajamas, one could only assume that they haven’t seen the inside of a washing machine in some time which then begs the question, when did he possibly shower last?

Sitting besides the journal on the table is a coffee cup and what appears to be a few Ginger Snaps. Is it any wonder with this type of diet at 2:30 a.m. he is still awake?

You think to yourself, is this what most seniors look like at 2:30 a.m. during this time of self-isolation because if it is, it is truly a sad sight. You think “my situation” is so much better.

But hold on, he stopped writing for a moment, adjusted his eye glasses and looks up across the table where his mate might sit when they have breakfast every day and slowly his reflection appears in the mirror of the china closet.

Wait, I know those glasses! Is that a picture of me, my wife, and our children on the shelf? Could it be?

Is that my reflection I see?

Snooze Button!

SNOOZE BUTTON!

Time waits for no man!

I recently read a quote that sort of gave me that kick in the ass that some of us need every now and then to get motivated and write that article or post we have been putting off for quite a while.

The quote went something like this:

“Our snooze button does not have the power to delay the sun from rising in the morning. Time simply does not wait for anyone. Ted Robbins, Time Management Master Time Management and Boost Your Success 

Fact is this saying applies whether we are still in school, still working, or enjoying our life in retirement.

I keep wondering what my problem is and why I do not sit down at my computer to write that weekly blog post I keep telling myself is important. For some reason, making the bed, doing the dishes, taking out the trash, paying the bills, filing receipts, and all these type things ad nauseum easily take the place of our sitting on our butts at the computer or in a chair with pen/pencil and tablet writing.

It would appear that we forget the number one rule of those of us that want to “write,” and that is we must actually take the time to write. While I keep a daily journal of sorts, basically it is a compilation of notes of things I plan on doing on such and such a day, how I feel, whether or not we got to see our children, and what I usually end up calling “unimportant stuff.” True it is writing but it is not the type of writing I thought I would be doing when I set up this blog site.

No, what I had in mind when I set up this site was to share with everyone – funny stuff, educational stuff, philosophical stuff, and so forth.

There seems to be no rhyme nor reason to what it is that I write about. Part of me says: “Hey, what’s wrong with that – you are doing what you want to do and writing that which satisfies your itch to write.” But then my conscience asks the question: “But is that enough?” Shouldn’t you have a niche, a brand, something that would keep people coming back for more?

Hence the reference to the quote mentioned at the beginning of this post – mainly the part that says: “Time simply does not wait for anyone.”  I mean, in a few days, I will be turning 79, you would think I should have it all together by this time in my life!

Perhaps one does not need a niche, brand, or something to keep people coming back for more. Perhaps it is my writing in and of itself (hopefully the content of same is what people enjoy) that will keep people coming back for more.

This post is becoming a lesson in writing with me being both the student and the teacher it would seem. Why do I say that? Well to begin with, having said that, the only other obstacle I need to overcome is that of being consistent.

How does this come into play? Well, for one thing – if I were more consistent, chances are those reading my rants and raves would have something to look forward to every week. Even more so if I tied it to a specific day as I have seen other bloggers do (post an article every Sunday evening for instance). In doing so, those that do get some enjoyment out of the dribble I write about, will know to look for my latest rant each and every Sunday evening.

I am beginning to be glad I had this conversation with myself. Now all I need to do is come up with content (preferably something readers will enjoy or something I enjoy writing about) and then be consistent in posting on a certain day be it weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or what have you.

I knew there was a reason I like that joke about talking to oneself because that seems to be the only time those of us that do talk to ourselves have an intelligent conversation.

I am posting this today but am shooting for Sunday nights in the future to begin posting weekly. If I don’t follow through, please feel free to give me a swift kick in the you know what to get me motivated and doing what I love doing…..WRITE!

With that I will bid you adieu and be back Sunday evening.