#125-GETTING OLDER, WE ALL DO IT

I found this a couple of months ago and I immediately knew I had to use it!

Ok, I turned 70 on February 4th and I am "supposed" to be old by a lot of peoples standards.  In fact, I found out that most "old folks" like me don't even have a computer.  And if they do, they mostly use it to send and receive Emails.  When trying to find bloggers 6o and over I came up with very few.  So, you can see why I was a little bit reluctant to divulge my age.  Readers, might be turned off by this OLD GEEZER'S writings.

Nobody said getting old would be easy.  But it is easy.  It is too easy, and happens too fast.  In fact I do not consider myself old, even when I look in the mirror.  What's not easy is trying to grow old gracefully.  There are daily reminders that pop up when you least expect them (like the mirror).  The other day I passed the bathroom mirror and was startled to see my mother's reflection.  Mannn, when did I start to look like her?

Then, there are friends who remind me what a joke life can be.  And, there are a lot of funny things that happen at each stage of life, even old age.  A friend sent me these cartoons.

Yes, I have already gone through three of the four stages of aging!

And, this IS an accurate diagram of my day!

I was almost this bad before my cataract surgery!

Finally,  I do consider this one as too close to the truth.

(the caption reads, "I'm getting so old that all my friends in heaven will think I didn't make it!")

The thing is the older I get the closer to God I get and that's something to look forward to.  So, here is some advice from this OLD GEEZER... ... ... easy to give, but hard to follow... ... ... 

• turn your troubles over to God  (talk to him) 
• follow God's commandments (read His word)
• laugh as often as possible, and carry a smile on your face (even when you don't feel like it)
• don't hold grudges (forgive easily) 
• tell loved ones (and friends) daily, how much you care for them
• respect yourself (but put others first)
• do your best at everything you do  (but don't try to please everyone)
• reward yourself when you have done well (because others often forget to)
• be honest with yourself (and others)
• make sure your words are nurturing (not hurtful)
• hug a lot (the person standing next to you may not show it, but probably needs one too)
• do something positive to help the environment (every little bit helps)
• eat your prunes (just threw that in there to make sure you were paying attention, I can't stand those things and don't eat them).
• remember that movie "Pay It Forward?" (Well, we all need to do a lot of small pay it forwards!)

Nothing new or mind blowing here.  Just plan ole common sense.  The more you follow these simple suggestions the happier you are with yourself.  The happier you are with yourself the better you treat others.  The better you treat others, the better they treat you and... ... ... 

However, there is one I forgot to put down: 

• There are jerks in this world (the trick is to learn to ignore them,  forgive them and try not to be like them).

I DID SAY IT WOULDN'T BE EASY.  Lord knows I haven't mastered them.  But I try!  I really try! 

kt2/2011