A friend recently sent me a great article that offered advice to those over 65. https://maybienvh.wordpress.com/2018/05/24/between-65-and-death/ If you know me, you know I think such articles can be improved. Here’s my attempt.
The “Golden” years of “retirement are our last and best effort to be awesome. Let’s not miss this chance. Here are some tips. I would appreciate it more.
01 – Be realistic about your finances. Most fear they don’t have enough to live on, but life can be cheaper as you age. My wife and I realize we can split entrees at restaurants if we can agree on the entrees. That’s just one example. My observation is that some are just addicted to work or to making money or just don’t want to be home with the spouse. Be realistic. For most, it really is time to stop and smell the roses.
02 – Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren , and don’t feel bad spending your money on yourself . You’ve taken care of them for many years , and you’ve taught them what you could . Be like the momma bird, it’s time to toss them out of the nest and let them fly on their own.
03 – Keep a healthy life , without great physical effort . Do moderate activity, eat well and get your sleep. It’s easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs. Keep in touch with your doctor , do tests even when you’re feeling well . Stay informed . I love swimming and thy to do so six days a week. Find something that’s fun and do it. Activity (let’s not call it exercise) can be physically, socially, spiritually and psychologically beneficial.
04 – Treat your significant other like royalty. Love him or her, love life, love your family, love your neighbor. LOVE
05 – Don’t stress over the little things . You’ve already overcome so much in your life . You have good memories and bad ones , but the important thing is the present . Don’t let the past drag you down and don’t let the future frighten you . Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten.
06 – Appearance isn’t the most important thing, but it still matters. Don’t stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it helps inside.
07 – Dress as a fashionable person of your age. Be you. You’re not twenty, but you’re not dead either.
08 – Stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying . Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those social networks. You’ll be surprised at what old friends you’ll meet. Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the people you know is important at any age.
09 – Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideals as you, but they are the future, and will take the world in their direction. When asked: Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them that yesterday’s wisdom still applies today.
10 – Never use the phrase In my time. Your time is now. As long as you’re alive, you are part of this time. You are still now , having fun and enjoying life.
11 – Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it’ll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better . Spending your time with bitter people will make you older and harder to be around.
12 – Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren ( if you have a financial choice, that is. Being surrounded by family sounds great, but we all need our privacy. They need theirs and you need yours. If you’ve lost your partner, if you are lonely or need help, find a person to move in with you.
13 – As a Christian, you have a mission and a mission field. Identify the mission and field and get to work.
14 – Have a hobby. You can travel, hike, cook, read. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, golf. You can paint, volunteer or just collect certain items. Find something you like and spend some real time having fun with it.
15 – Get out there. Accept invitations. Get out of the house, meet people you haven’t seen in a while, experience something new. But don’t get upset when you’re not invited. Some events are limited by resources, and not everyone can be included. Leave the house. Go to museums, go walk through a field. God’s beautiful world is there to be enjoyed.
16 – Talk less and listen more. Some people go on and on about the past, (listen to Bruce Springsteen’s Glory Days) not caring if their listeners are really interested.
17 – Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Activity, good health care, and staying close to Jesus all help.
18 – Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die. Don’t take that poison. Forgive, forget and move on with your life.
19 – If you have a strong belief, savor it. But don’t waste your time trying to convince others. They will make their own choices no matter what you tell them, and it will only bring you frustration. Live your faith and set an example. Live true to your beliefs and let that memory sway them .
20 – Laugh. Laugh at everything. Remember, you are one of the lucky ones. You managed to have a life, a long one Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full life. But you did. So what’s not to laugh about? Find the humor in your situation.
21 – Take no notice of what others say about you and even less notice of what they might be thinking. They have no idea about your history, your memories and the life you’ve lived so far. There’s still much to be written, so get busy writing and don’t waste time thinking about what others might think. Now is the time to be at rest, at peace and as happy as you can be!
And, in the words of Jesus, “Peace be with you.”
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