We all have to contend with issues as we age, we all have our own individual rates of decline, and as we lose the inevitable fight whether it is due to life-threatening illness or due to natural causes, there are ways we can make life a bit more comfortable for us. And as life doesn’t have to be a difficult, slippery slope after the age of 65, there are little things we can do not only to make life a bit easier in terms of our coping methods but also to get a bit more enjoyment out of the little things…
Looking After Your Senses
These are the first things we notice as we hit the mid-life period but, of course, we can make the most of the tools we have at our disposal. Not just get glasses and hearing aids to make life easier for us, but we can also train our eyes to see better without using glasses. The efficacy of this is disputed in some circles, but it does help you when it comes to your focus which is an essential skill to keep on using as we age for the sake of our minds.
Dealing With The Stigma Of Old Age
This is something a lot of us have problems getting our head around and especially with the aforementioned hearing aid it is something that used to stick out like a sore thumb. But now there are hearing aids that are barely visible.
And for those who are struggling to come to terms with their age, you can use all the hair dyes that you want and dress as young as you feel, it still may take some time to get over the fact that you are “old.” But the horrid truth is that we all need to embrace how old we are.
Of course, we see plenty of people going through midlife crises, and we silently mock them, but how would you feel if the tables were turned? It may take time, but we all become more comfortable in our own skin eventually.
Worrying About Our Mortality
This is the big one, of course. As we age we do begin to question the little things in life such as if we have much time left on this planet. As you may think you’re spending more time at friends’ funerals rather than doing anything else, it can begin to weigh heavy on your mind.
In these instances it’s important for you to get out and be more social, as staying in and mulling over this type of stuff is unhealthy and is a common trait of people over a certain age. As loneliness can lead to depression, it can put you into a bad cycle of doubt and anxiety.
Being as social as you possibly can is one way to alleviate these types of problems. Also, always remember there is someone you can talk to.
As we age things start to decline such as our memory power and physical abilities, but it is a myriad of anxieties to contend with. So if we can look after our senses and do what we can to reduce our fears it will make for a more enjoyable time in our twilight years.
very beautiful writeup great worded thank you so much for sharing.
As you know, I have been tormented by the aging process.
I have taken heart by the TED Talk about ageism, that you posted. Remember the U curve? We will finally have the time to do the things we want to do, and could be happier than we ever realized since childhood.
Health will be an important asset, and a healthy lifestyle while we are young will help with that. Although nothing is guaranteed!
I agree with DG Kaye! Hobbies are activities. Many of us have special passions and skills we left behind when we were younger and needed to earn a living and raise a family. Just because one is 65, who says you are too, old to pick up that guitar again, and finally form a band?
It’s imperative to keep our minds stimulated and challenged to keep the senses active. Reading, puzzles, playing cards are great activities to stay engaged. :) xx
Enjoyed reading, thanks
It’s interesting, I’ve worn reading glasses since I was 18. No one ever commented on them until I got older. Now I’m teased about needing reading glasses!
Excellent post, Christy!
So ironic that we get so much wiser as we age, but the beauty of youth leaves us. And the beauty of youth is so seductive but many of us don’t realize how invaluable wisdom is that comes from age and life experience. Personally, I try to be happy with the age that I’m at, at any given moment. I will never be this young again. lol.
I’m rounding the bases to 40 and I hear that the problems of “old age” haven’t set in, but you aren’t so naive and prone to careless mistakes as you were in youth. It’s an interesting time for sure. I have really dark hair and I see the grays poking through and I wonder if I’ll ever dye it. It’s much cheaper not to. But then again, there’s always the idea of trying out wild colors. lol.
In any case, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. Have a wonderful week!
In my younger years I dreaded old age, but I was looking at old age from the wrong perspective. I’ve learned ever stage in life has it’s own form of beauty. For beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. Once I became a mom I began looking at age as a “beautiful maturity”.
❤️
I am only 34 years old, but the first temporary joint problems and wrinkles scared me. Not because of beauty considerations but due to the realisation that I had stopped growing and I had started getting older.
This topic is especially relevant for me, Christy, due to a couple of conversations I’ve had since Sunday – one with a male friend in his mid-50s bemoaning his loss of strength as he ages, and the other with a young woman I barely knew – described below.
Whenever our appearance changes – whether through age or a spate of ill health – is always a bit of a shock to catch an unexpected reflection of ourselves – since we never really change in our minds (at least I haven’t). Watching once-taut skin begin to grow slack is truly bizarre as well. And, of course, after a certain age we can no longer get away with abusing ourselves in any fashion without paying for it the next day – self-care and healthy habits become increasingly more important with every passing year. But wait – there’s more. :)
Most Sunday nites I play on a Trivia team at Tink’s Cheers Bar — with a crowd of mixed age. I had to laugh when it was so noisy I needed to request a repeat of the question. The young woman sitting across from me asked, quite sincerely btw – do you know what a “meme” is? (certain that I needed help *understanding* the question, ancient as I must have seemed to her – lol!)
I’m sure I held similar thoughts about people who were more than a few decades older than I when I was a college freshman, but I don’t recall them, and it was a bit of a shock to hear them aimed my way. I’m still ME inside – and it’s startling when even subtle ageism rears its not-very-pretty head — assumptions that my preferences or interests are because I’m “old” not because of who I have always been and still am. ::sigh:: I hope I will always be able to laugh it off.
But for me, the biggest challenge is making friends with the reality that I am no longer a dark brunette. My sister was the blue-eyed blonde – I always loved my dark hair and eyes. Snow White and Rose Red, for those who know the story. I’m not all that happy about stepping into the other role.
My hair suddenly turned practically white as the result of the shock a life event that was extremely stressful. I got tired of coloring the roots every three weeks, so I have been growing it out to see if I can make my life easier by embracing what’s so.
It’s truly a lovely color, but I am struggling a bit trying to make friends with being a platinum blonde! Funny challenge, when you think of all of aging’s others, but that one has been the biggest whack to my self-image. I also cut it into a short bob, hoping to make the transition easier — and now I hardly recognize myself in the mirror anymore. :)
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie)
ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to educate a world!”
Old age is kind of a nifty thing if you’re healthy enough to enjoy it. I think we need to culturally stop fearing it. Things change, and health has to be actively looked after and pursued. But aging is kind of cool.
I found gray hairs growing in my bangs and I pulled them out.
Age to me is a blessing and a curse
There are things I thought I would never do for example I got married in my fifties and have a beautiful daughter who is going into six grade,Yes the smallest things do make me happy,Great post
Excellent work
As Sheldon Always