Things I didn't know till I got old-er

I love learning new things and watching videos about life hacks. It’s fun to see something as simple as fillinga long neck glass bottle with water, turning it up side down and sticking it in your potted plant for a self-waterer, and wondering why you never thought about doing that?

Getting older has its perks. You get good at using what you’ve learned, it’s called crystalized intelligence.

Also, it turns out you might not be a grumpy old man or woman, after all. In your 60s you’re likely to be happier and less inclined to get mad. Maybe because we’ve learned to control our emotions better or maybe because we’ve been through so much, we’ve learned to make the most of life and not sweat the petty stuff.

As I get older, I seem more in tune with how others think and feel, although I may not agree with everything they think and feel, I’m less inclined to try and change their mind.

Strange things appear on your body. A stray hair or two that is in some odd place. Lumps and bumps that you discover and ask your doctor about, only to be told, “You’re not a Spring chicken anymore, these things happen.”

Working swings and night shifts for so many years, I’m surprised at how early I go to bed now. I’m actually a morning person. Although I wake up during the night, I have no trouble getting back to sleep and get up much earlier than I used to. Unless I’m binge-watching Outlander.

Retirement sounds like fun, and it is to a certain extent. However, working hard at a job you enjoy can really be satisfying, especially as you get older. Self esteem can take a beating when you don’t have the same strength you had even 10 years ago, or you can’t walk as far as you used to without feeling it a good deal more.

Good friends and close family to laugh and share with mean a lot more. I’ve lost a lot of friends over the past few years, and it wasn’t because they moved. I find myself cherishing the ones I still have even more.

Being afraid of breaking a bone never crossed my mind until a few year ago. When it’s snowy and icy, I walk like a penguin. I have broken bones, but that was over 30 years ago.  Living where I do, I figure if I fall and break something and can’t get up in the winter, it will be a day or two before anyone notices. However, having the new Medical Center so close by is a huge comfort.

I don’t stress out like I used to. That isn’t to say I won’t have a meltdown on occasion if I feel so inclined or am pushed hard enough, but for the most part, not many things bug me. Even a busted fuel pump.

Voting is a lot more important to me than it used to be, and it isn’t just me that feels that way. Maybe as we get older, we pay more attention to the issues that affect us directly.

As I approach my mid-60s, I stop to “smell the roses” even more than usual. Birds singing and  a hot cup of tea, hugs, these are small pleasures, and joys that mean so much.

I read an article about the elderly in Okinawa, Japan. Records have been set for the longest-living individuals in the world in this region. Their long lives have been attributed to the practice of “ikigai.” A ‘sense of a life worth living’ which includes looking for joy in small things, being present, and creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Laughing. I’ve never been afraid to laugh, and have occasionally done so inappropriately. However, it is believed that laughter can reduce pain and worry, and naturally make your life more enjoyable.

Making a contribution to your community, whether through a well-written letter to the editor or taking up a cause also helps me feel like I still have a reason for being on this planet. It doesn’t have to be anything earthshaking. It could be something as simple as working on a project to bring a special memorial monument to the Valley or providing a meal to a shut-in.

Being a good role model for my grandkids and others is gratifying. Being courageous about things you cannot change and focusing on being grateful for the blessings you have in your life can make a huge difference in your life. Learning to cope with difficult situations is something we all face in our lives, and as we get older, we are more likely to face the situation head-on and take a stand.

Life can be bitter, sweet, tender, and tough. It’s an inner decision, not the result of outside influences alone that determines the person we become as we age and the life we live.