What is the best part of being old? What is the worst?

1. 82

   Say Yes To Lifeposted 8 years ago

   What is the best part of being old?  What is the worst?
   
   For me, the worst is losing my health and becoming incapacitated.  The best is the huge collection of wisdom, memories, and a long lists of "firsts" I get to experience (first microwave, first iPod, etc.).
   P.S.  Regarding the photo, my plan is to do my first skydive on my 60th birthday, and advance to wingsuit flying.  I find the older I get, the fewer things scare me.
   
   

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2. 83

   gregasposted 8 years ago

   I am 69 now, and I was able to retire about 4 months ago. Unlike a lot of other people I know, I enjoy very much not doing anything. We are able to go where we want whenever we want. Don't have to worry about taking time off or vacations. I don't like the fact that I do have a few pains here and there that slow me down somewhat though.
   I do have someone now that I can live out the rest of my life with which is a real plus. Greg.

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   1. 82

      Say Yes To Lifeposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      If I lived in a big beautiful palace, I'd enjoy staying home a lot and entertaining. It might be fun for my house to be the place to go for parties. That's another thing to look forward to when I retire and have more time.

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3. 0

   Cissy1946posted 8 years ago

   For me the best part of being "old" and retired is not having to go into a job filled with idiots every day. Strange thing is the people I've worked with over the years didn't start out as idiots but evolved into them as I got older and grew more and more tired of hearing the same complaints from each group of people with none of them making any effort to change the things they were complaining about! Now I enjoy peace and quiet.
   I'm 70 and still have my teeth so if you take care of them you don't need to lose your teeth and you can become incapacitated at any age. Some people are actually born incapacitated but manage to have full and useful lives. Old doesn't mean wise. That question was asked a few weeks ago and most people agreed with that assessment. Memories are a double edged sort of thing. There are lots of good ones but once people start dying some of them get very painful. And, believe it or not, you really get tired of the "firsts". Every time a "first" comes out you have to relearn everything all over again. It just gets tiresome. The worst part of getting "old" is that you begin to be invisible to the younger world around you. Of course if you forget to pull the cord on your chute and end up a splat on the ground you won't be invisible to anyone.
   A friend of mine went skydiving for the first time when she was 54 or 55. She said she enjoyed it but once was enough. I have other friends who had been skydiving for years and continued into their early 60's. So maybe it would be a good idea to do it the first time a bit younger and then just continue.

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   1. 82

      Say Yes To Lifeposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, not having to go to work anymore is DEFINITELY something I'm looking forward to! My career has been the cause for my 3 nervous breakdowns. I'll be 56 in a month, and still enjoy excellent health. Enjoying old age takes PLANNING!

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4. 79

   Diana Leeposted 8 years ago

   The best part of being old is respecting each day as it is given you.  After all the alternative to aging would be missing out on so many blessings still in store for us. Grandchildren and new adventures in life are amazing. I love to spend time with my grandbabies and I love to travel and see new things. Doing both of these things together brings purpose to getting old as well as pleasure.
   
   I’m a 61 year old widow, too young to retire comfortably, yet too old to enjoy working everyday when there is so much left to do that I never had time for. I recently cut back on working hours in order to draw widow’s benefits. My late husband worked so hard and never lived long enough to draw very much of the money he put into the system. I plan to draw whatever I have coming to me. If it weren’t for the stock market crash that knocked out a big chunk of the retirement fund we were counting on for our future I could be sitting pretty good right now. Life has many curve balls; we need to be on guard for anything.
   
   I’m looking forward to a day when I don’t need to punch a clock or answer to a boss. I pray I’ll have a few years to do that. I hope I’ll still have some mobility by then and my mind is still intact.
   
   The worse thing about growing old is losing family and friends one by one. The longer we live the more loved ones we lose. Missing them makes one lonely. We can’t let it engulf us with grief or our time left here is wasted. Memories help, but knowing when to recall them and when to let them go can be tricky business.

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   1. 82

      Say Yes To Lifeposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      So sorry to hear of the loss of your husband, followed by the stock market crash! It affected me too; fortunately, I was able to recover. It's great that you have grandchildren to keep you going. I'll have to get to know other people's; I have none.

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5. 85

   gmwilliamsposted 8 years ago

   
   
   May I ask what is old?  Now, let's change, even revamp the definition of old to sage.   The greatest thing about being a sage is ultimate self-awareness & self-acceptance.  One has life experience & is comfortable w/his/her being.   One has enough experience to know what h/she wants & will tolerate. 
   
   Old is such an atavistic word.  It reflects a very negative paradigm, mentality, mindset, outlook, & philosophy.  When one believes h/she is old, h/she oftentimes act as if h/she is finished w/life & is no longer interested in exploring the new.  H/she becomes resigned & starts to isolate himself/herself from the world.  H/she even loses his/her zest for life. 
   
   A sage is a different species entirely.  A sage anticipates life.  A sage is engaged in life.  H/she wants to learn, explore, & impart wisdom.  H/she refuses to stagnate.  H/she is vibrant.  Instead of thinking about old, start thinking S-A-G-E.  Remember when one believes & thinks h/she is OLD, h/she ACTS OLD........

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   1. 82

      Say Yes To Lifeposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      In the US, a person is considered a "senior citizen" at age 65. Insulting birthday cards start much younger. When I turned 40, I discovered on my own it has many benefits. I have since been told there are benefits at ALL ages - including old / SAGE.

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