I’m sitting again and when I sit I’m okay.
I can’t stand very long. I’ve got some sort of compressed disk thing that is making my back ouchy and my life miserable.
I’m told this is just another symptom of growing old – achy joints and back pain, insomnia, wrinkles, thinning hair, longer nose hairs.
Today, I’m not feeling so great about being older.
I wish I could still walk three miles a day.
I wish I could lose 20 pounds in six weeks.
I wish I could dance away half the night.
I wish I were forty again.
The only good thing about getting older – today – is this pity party I’m having. I can have about six hours of a pity party and then I’m worn out from that experience.
The truth, of course, is that growing older is a lot better than treading water at the same age over and over again. Sort of like Billy Murray in “Groundhog Day.” No end to the experience. No growth. No mental expansion.
No sense of purpose.
You’ll hear me talk a lot about a sense of purpose in the next few weeks. I’m a great believer in the incentive purpose gives your life.
Anyway, one of my colleagues is challenging you to give me the five things you wish you could recapture from your youth.
Frankly, youth often is over-rated. I remember needing to shave my legs and armpits more often. I remember not being smart enough to realize the price of too many cognacs is one heck of a hangover.
I remember not having the confidence I have today. I know I had less self-esteem.
So much for my pity party.
Older or younger doesn’t matter. It’s what you do with the time you have that matters.
Do you agree?
July 10th, 2007 - 6:51 pm
I wish I were 10 pounds lighter.
I wish I didn’t have all these wrinkles and spots.
I wish I could eat chocolate anytime I wanted and it didn’t go to my “new belly”.
I wish I didn’t have this “new belly”.
I wish I had met my Domestic Partner 30 years ago.
July 15th, 2007 - 6:03 am
I do not get so frustrated, angry or annoyed with people like I did when I was young.
July 15th, 2007 - 6:04 am
I do not get frustrated, annoyed or angry with people like I did when I was young.
July 15th, 2007 - 10:49 am
i graduated from college at 50, found a new career at 51, will retire in 3 years to pursue another career at 63…was 50 pounds overweight so i started walking 4 miles a day, do an intense aerobic routine Get Ripped 1000, in the past 3 months i have lost 15 pounds, dropped 2 pant sizes, feel better, no long have joint pain…i eat what i want 1 day a week, and do the “biggest loser” meal plan the other 6, my stomach is almost gone…i find i look at life differently when i talk with younger people, can see myself and my expectations at 20 has not changed much from their’s, find that they have the same unreal expectations that i had at 20, and they, for the most part, have the same self-esteem issues i had…i found in my close friends, of 53 years, that the ones who had mothers who told them they were special, could do anything, and would go places were more successful in picking partners than the ones who’s mothers told them to marry well so the husband could provide for them…i have enjoyed growing and seeing my friends from high school days and how well we have done with our lives…seeing those who never married, myself, those who did, those who are divorced, those who are now single for whatever reason and how they cope…extraordinary women, great friends…glad that i did not meet my new partner until now…i would have not made a worthy half to his whole person…i now compliment his whole person with my whole person…
July 18th, 2007 - 10:26 am
I wish I could stay up all night and not be a zombie the next day.
I wish I could drink like I did in my 20’s.
I wish I didn’t have all these aches and pains.
I wish I could jump/run/hop/dance/sneeze without worrying about little ‘accidents’.
That’s it!. I can’t think of five things I miss.
July 19th, 2007 - 3:04 pm
Am retiring very soon and people say they are jealous - I remind them that to retire you must be old and I would work another 10 years if I were 10 years younger. I miss looking good first thing in the morning and feeling wonderful all day and into the night. I miss taking a nap just because it felt good and not because I needed it but then wake up feeling awful. I miss not being able to stay up all night but still functiion the next day. But all and all, it’s been well worth it - the friends, the experiences and the fun - thankfully, I know how to laught at myself and enjoy life.
July 24th, 2007 - 7:53 pm
I wish I had the energy of when I was 20 or 30 or even 40 or 50
I wish I had 20/20 vision again
I wish I could hear out of my right ear
I wish I had a 3 million dollars
I wish I had 5 more wishes and they would all come true.
August 5th, 2007 - 7:46 am
I wish I could lose 15 pounds in 2 months like I did in my 20s & 30s.
Even though I canstill wear a size 8 I wish all the “pieces” would stay up where they belong
I wish I didn’t have hot flashes that melt my make up and hair before I can even get to the office.
I wish I had saved more money
I wish I had kept up with old friends
but then
I still look good in a dress and heals and can still wear them high!
I don’t have to deal with “that time of month”
I don’t have to carry a a coat with me everywhere I go
I don’t “need” as many material things
I have an adult children that count as best friends along with my sisters
Best of all….. I no longer feel the need to fix everything or convince everyone that my way is the right way!
August 11th, 2007 - 2:17 pm
I’d give anything if age had made me more patient and kind, but after years of dealing with a demanding husband, I think there’s some residual anger. I get tired of hearing the same complaints from people, most of which are solvable if they budget, cut back, change jobs, put their foot down. I wish I was more patient, but I’m tired of raising someone else’s spirits and contributing to someone else’s good day - when is it my turn? The more independent and capable I become, the less anyone thinks to inquire about me.
August 13th, 2007 - 1:25 pm
I wish I could apologize to some family members who have already passed away.
I wish I had been a better mother.
I wish I had listened to what my parents told me growing up.
I wish I had plenty of money for traveling.
I wish I hadn’t spent 28 years in a relationship that never went anywhere!
August 15th, 2007 - 9:26 am
I want to hear what Patricia’s new career is… and what her old career was…In fact, more stories on women starting over after the age of 50 would be great.
August 15th, 2007 - 11:39 am
My biggest wish would be to go back to when my son was a baby and know what I know now about motherhood and it’s importance.
I wish I hadn’t pissed away the money I did
I wish I went to college before I had my son and persued my art career then instead of waitin until I was 59.
I wish I made better choices in men.
I wish I had more self-esteem in my youth.
I wish I had the looks and strength now that I wasted in my youth.
And as the old saying goes” I wish I had known back then what I know today.” Boy that’s the gospel truth!!!!!!!
August 15th, 2007 - 11:40 am
My biggest wish would be to go back to when my son was a baby and know what I know now about motherhood and it’s importance.
I wish I hadn’t pissed away the money I did
I wish I went to college before I had my son and persued my art career then instead of waiting until I was 59.
I wish I made better choices in men.
I wish I had more self-esteem in my youth.
I wish I had the looks and strength now that I wasted in my youth.
And as the old saying goes” I wish I had known back then what I know today.” Boy that’s the gospel truth!!!!!!!
August 21st, 2007 - 10:18 am
I wish I could have a “do over” with rearing my children….but only if I could know “then” what I know now.
I wish I had realized time was passing when I was in my 20s and 30s instead of waking up one day, 49 and wondering what happened?
I wish I could change some yeses to no and some nos to yes.
I wish I had not moved so far away from home.
I wish I had realized how important my family was to me when I was a teenager instead of waiting until I had left home.
but then I am glad I old enough to know…
If I had a do over I just would make different mistakes.
If I had known time was passing I probably would still wake up 49 and wonder what happened
If I changed my yeses and nos who says the results would have been that different, or I would have liked them any better?
If I had not left home I would not have come to know some pretty wonderful people and seen some pretty cool stuff.
I can’t think of anything that makes not realizing my family was important to me is ok. I will always regret my mom not living long enough for me to tell her she was right.
But in spite of these and many other “wishes” I am happy I am still out there fighting the good fight. Looking for ways to make myself a better person and now I know it is ok, even good that what is right for me is not what is right for someone else. I don’t have to be right for you…just for me. That is a great feeling.
December 31st, 2007 - 12:47 pm
I’m 57 years old and I don’t regret a thing. I hitch-hiked and protested in the 70’s, I married and had kids in the 80’s, I volunteered like crazy in the 90’s. I have two puppies and no grandchildren. Im fit, I’m happy. ….Now what?