Never Have Regrets

As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself.

I've become my own friend. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM or sleep until noon?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love…I will. 

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old. 

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect. 

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore...I've earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be.

And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).

Observations on Growing Older

~Your kids are becoming you...and you don't like them...but your grandchildren are perfect!

~Going out is good…Coming home is better!

~When people say you look "Great"...they add "for your age!"

~When you needed the discount, you paid full price. Now you get discounts on everything...movies, hotels, flights, but you're too tired to use them.

~You forget names....but it's OK because other people forgot they even knew you!!!

~The 5 pounds you wanted to lose is now 15 and you have a better chance of losing your keys than the 15 pounds.

~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything....especially golf. 

~Your spouse is counting on you to remember things you don't remember.

~The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore.

~Your husband sleeps better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than he does in bed.  It's called his "pre-sleep".

~Remember when your mother said, 
"Wear clean underwear in case you GET in an accident"? Now you bring clean underwear in case you HAVE an accident!

~You used to say, "I hope my kids GET married...Now, "I hope they STAY married!"

~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch.

~When GOOGLE, iPod, email, modem....
were unheard of, and a mouse was something that made you climb on a table.

~You used to use more 4 letter words...
"what?"..."when?"... ???

~Now that you can afford  expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere.

~Your husband has a night out with the guys, but he's home by 9:00 P.M. Next week it will be 8:30 P.M.

~You read 100 pages into a book before you realize you've read it.

~Notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!

~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.

~Everybody whispers. 

 

~Now that your husband has retired...
you'd give anything if he'd find a job!

~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet...2 of which you will never wear. 


~But old is good in some things: old songs, 
old movies, And best of all, OLD FRIENDS!! 

Love you, "OLD FRIEND!" 

Share this with other "Old Friends!" and let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!! 

It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived