Things learned about aging and still learning.
If you’ve made it to sixty, then you’ve got an even chance to make it to 90! Wow, what are you going to do with all that time? How will we face the things that will occur?
If you’ve made it this far, taking care of your health is the most important thing you can do. I mean it. If your health declines, most of the rest of things we might do become unimportant if we just struggle to get through the day. Sometimes life deals us a hand that is difficult to play as illness or injuries make things hard. Some have financial setbacks or loss of a loved one. Good health can go a long way to help cope.
If you are reasonably healthy, then try for an hour a day of exercise. Start easy if this is something new to you, but keep it up. You can go to a gym, join classes at the Y or take walks or bike rides. Having someone joining you helps to keep up the momentum. Next, eat better. You can find lots of information about better diets at your library, community center, or study on your own. Take changes slowly, reduce consumption of ultra processed foods, sodas, alcohol and sugary foods. Drink more water. Get to bed on a regular time and get about 8 hours of quality rest each night. Call a friend or visit one. Stay connected, talk, laugh and make a new friend.
You’ve learned a lot over the years, try to listen more and understand other points of view. Slower to judge or argue over things will make days more enjoyable. There is a half-way point for most things in life. Study history to maintain perspective. There’s not really much new under the sun.
It will come with some losses of friends, perhaps memory and bodily functions. Try not to dwell on what might have been, would haves/should haves and possibly legacies. Be grateful for what you do have.
Getting old is not for sissies, we’ve all heard that, but, it beats the alternatives. Good to see you some friends say. The best comeback is good to be seen!
Get up and get going in the morning. Working years provided structure and when that’s over you’ll have to create your own PURPOSE to move through each day. You can help with grandkids, volunteer, work a gig as an Indpendent, mentor someone, work part time for your former employer or for a new one. You might learn enough to start a new career or chase that passion you’ve had for a long time.
I have volunteered at a large hospital and veterans home with one of our dogs who is an accredited therapy dog. We visit people who are near the end of life, have difficult diseases or just lonely. Her gentle demeanor, soft eyes, or paw on their knee can bring out a smile where there was none.
The Four Agreements (Don Miguel Ruiz) offers some practical advice as we age or for any age really: don’t take things personally, always speak the truth, if you don’t understand, ask for clarification/don’t assume things, and always do your best. It may vary from day to day, but give it your best shot.
American healthcare is needlessly complex, very expensive and difficult to navigate. The people who work on the first line are not to blame. Direct your angst to the politicians who create this complex system filled with disincentives and hoops to jump through. Onerous regulations, private companies, state laws, federal laws, for profit companies, non-profit companies all in it to serve us they say, but they don’t do a very good job for many. Healthcare costs are a problem for retirees, and it should not be that way. No system is perfect, but it seems like we should be able to copy the best that other countries offer their citizens and adapt it to the US. I would also stress that we need more preventive protections. Encourage people to learn more about healthy diets, exercise and practices that keep you away from the ravages of old age.