I asked one of my friends who has crossed 70 & is heading to 80 what sort of changes he is feeling in himself?
He sent me the following very interesting lines, which I would like to share with you ....

#1 After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children, my friends, now I have started loving myself.

#2 I just realized that I am not “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders.

#3 I now stopped bargaining with vegetables & fruits vendors. A few pennies more is not going to burn a hole in my pocket but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.

#4 I pay my waitress a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to her face. She is toiling much harder for a living than me

#5 I stopped telling the elderly that they've already narrated that story many times. The story makes them walk down the memory lane & relive the past.

#6 I have learned not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.

#7 I give compliments freely & generously. Compliments are a mood enhancer not only for the recipient, but also for me. And a small tip for the recipient of a compliment, never, NEVER turn it down, just say "Thank You"

#8 I have learned not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearances.

#9 I walk away from people who don't value me. They might not know my worth, but I do.

#10 I remain cool when someone plays dirty to outrun me in the rat race. I am not a rat & neither am I in any race.

#11 I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. It’s my emotions that make me human.

#12 I have learned that it's better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. My ego will keep me aloof, whereas with relationships I will never be alone.

#13 I have learned to live each day as if it's the last. After all, it might be the last.

#14 I am doing what makes me happy. I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to myself. Happiness is a choice. You can be happy at any time, just choose to be!

Full disclosure, this was not sent to me firsthand. Somebody wrote it and a friend passed it along.

Great wisdom.

Thanks. Most of those resonated with me, but especially numbers 3 and 4 which I have come to embrace very strongly in recent years. As long as I can afford to spend money on the unnecessary such as eating out, I can afford to be somewhat generous to people who may not be able to.

Yep, I'm there. I walk away from internet arguments quickly.
Also I see the 30-45 yr old in their mighty positions that they are so proud of, knowing that their time will come and they'll be where I am now.
....A Has been....
Still it hurts, sometimes I want to reclaim my position of ego. But It falls on deaf ears. So I'm learning to just be quiet and do what I do.

I am at that age and I have learned that to be really happy I have to enjoy the sunrise and not fear the sunset and live my life between the two.

quote:

Originally posted by low8option:
I am at that age and I have learned that to be really happy I have to enjoy the sunrise and not fear the sunset and live my life between the two.

That old coot must stay up all night. I sort of remember that the sun does come up in the middle of the night, but I have no intention getting up that early. Sunrises are for sleeping through. Sunsets are kind of sad because the day is half over. But at least it won't shine on my face and hurt my eyes again until tomorrow. Glad to see it go.

#1 for me!

until covid, enjoying my life + volunteering, going to the gym were more enjoyable than a great career.

i was doing things i wanted to do, when i wanted to do 'em, not because i had to!!

I am in my 80th year. Retired three years. All good words of wisdom. I am absolutely in line with them, in fact as a service engineer for a major diesel and turbine manufacturer for 20 years, I have lived some of them for many years.

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:

quote:

Originally posted by low8option:
I am at that age and I have learned that to be really happy I have to enjoy the sunrise and not fear the sunset and live my life between the two.

That old coot must stay up all night. I sort of remember that the sun does come up in the middle of the night, but I have no intention getting up that early. Sunrises are for sleeping through. Sunsets are kind of sad because the day is half over. But at least it won't shine on my face and hurt my eyes again until tomorrow. Glad to see it go.

Have no idea what you are trying to say but my analogy is about the sunrise of our life is our birth and the sunset is our death and living to the fullest between them.

At 78, these pearls of wisdom make a lot of sense.

3,6,8 and 14 are codes I live by.

I just wish I could impress upon my children and grandchildren the value of #14

I keep hoping I will have time to do the woodworking and other hobbies I like, but duty as Dad and Grandpa keep calling me back.
I hope things will calm down soon.

But I like the sentiments, and agree with most.

I guess at 76 yrs. old, I can express a somewhat educated opinion:

When I was younger, I thought the two most important parts of human relationships were to be needed and appreciated. Now that I have "matured", I still love being needed, but I no longer have much need to be appreciated. Being needed feeds my sense of worth to my family and community. Being appreciated feeds my ego and my wife says that part of me needs to be on a diet!

I'm 72 and realize my wisest decision was to have accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. Makes life so much better and my eternal future and joy is a gift from a God who loves me inspite of my faults. The best is yet to come.