Trying not to rush getting older
Sun, October 25, 2020 I read somewhere that people do not grow old, they become old when they stop growing. I think back to when I turned fifty, I hated it. I hated the way I looked, I hated my life, and really, I hated myself. I was older then than I am now.
Here I am, close to 35 years later, and my attitude has done a complete 180. Instead of hating my life and having to make a living, I am retired and so I do not have to “Make” anything. I simply live life, enjoy life, and in the process because my needs are less, my needs are met, I manage to comfortably get by.
I am so busy all the time, I wonder how I ever found the time to make a living anyway. I have a purpose in life, and that is essential. A reason to live, to exist, a reason to chew through the restraints and get out of bed every morning.
I work hard at keeping myself healthy, I cannot afford to get sick. I eat a simple plant based diet, and that alone saves me money, Meat is expensive, and with the money I save by not buying it, I can afford to buy the best in organic fruits and vegetables.
My family, friends and loved ones, are my reason to live. I have grandchildren, and even great grandchildren I have yet to meet. I would like to do that one day. I have many good friends I look forward to seeing again. I measure my wealth not by money in the bank, but by those who will miss me when I am gone.
I also see this as a reason to get through this damnable pandemic, and we will. This too will pass. I was scheduled to speak at this year’s NAHBS but it was canceled due to Covid-19, I would like to have the opportunity to do that again sometime.
This pandemic may seem like a long haul, but as a child I remember WWII, and that lasted five years, It didn’t affect me, I was a child and at time I knew nothing else other than there was a war going on. But it passed as all things do, and possibly when this is over, we might learn something from it.
Every day I exercise my body, without my body, where will I live? I also exercise my mind, writing this is making me think, mind calisthenics if you will. That alone makes the effort worthwhile, and if I can bring a little joy into someone else’s life, entertain, inspire thought, that is an added bonus. Helping myself, while communicating with others, isn’t that what those who created this almighty mess that is the Internet and Social Media, intended?
It saddens me to see our country so divided, and it does not have to be that way. I have friends on both sides of the political spectrum, I love them all equally, for the way they treat me, and the way they make me feel when we are together. If they choose to post their political views on social media, it doesn’t mean I should rush to un-friend them. They are still the same person I love as a friend no matter what their views.
However, people who try to force their views on me, change me, or read into my views some political agenda, I can do without that and I will try to distance myself from that person. There is an unwritten, unspoken agreement, I will respect your views if it does not affect me in a negative way.
I get the feeling that some people need an affiliation to this or that political/religious/conspiracy belief group in order to feel they belong to something; maybe it satisfies some primal tribal need, and there is not necessarily harm in it unless they become victims of their own fantasies.
In the meantime, I will continue to believe in myself and a few close friends who share the same values in life. I cannot right all the problems in the world, but I can do my best to keep those problems outside my own world. I gave up on World Peace a long time ago, but I will never give up on inner peace.
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Reader Comments (7)
That is a great post!
Dave: Tu comentario de hoy es simplemente genial. Lo leo a través del traductor de google y aún así, es el reflejo de una existencia vivida con sabiduría.
[Translation: Dave: Your comment today is just great. I read it through the google translator and still, it is the reflection of an existence lived wisely.]
Mario, Muchas gracias, Dave (Davide.)
I'll answer your question Dave. There is a political party that represents people - and encourages them - who want to do me a lot of harm, or enable institutions that do me and my people a lot of harm (eg police). I want no part of that party, nor anybody who endorses that party. That "polarization" sucks (and of course, "my" party is quite problematic) but I cannot be friends with someone who may treat me nice personally, but enable the worst in our society to their damage.
Hi Dave, Another wonderful, insightful posting...thank you for sharing. A strong inner peace allows for healthy outward reactions. For me, I find the scale tipping one way or the other depending on the conditions of the time. Time for me to listen to "Imagine" (Lennon). Mike
Dave, Thanks for the post. I have been reflecting a lot on my age and what is left.
Your third to the last paragraph is about acceptance and individual freedom/responsibility. That makes you more American than many who have multiple generations of history on this continent! But of course you come from the country that created the Magna Carta.
I have been through this cycle of 'thinking' old a couple of times in recent years, in my case largely driven by my health.
Community is a big part of us staying active and alive.
And you are on point, the ability to have civil discourse with people of differing views has gotten very thin these days.
But let's not deceive ourselves, to some extent this has always been the case.What has happened in recent years is that this happens faster and anonymously (via internet). I believe that this anonymity has lead to a shrillness that does not help.
The long way around to say that our own community is even more important.
Just don't let it become and echo chamber where you only hear what you want to hear.
Always enjoy your posts. Thanks again!