Grow old gracefully

the last thing i want is to become one of those women. you know who i’m talking about. they’re clearly in their fifties or sixties, but they still try to dress and act like they’re in their twenties. it’s a little bit sad. they really don’t need all that plastic surgery or those clothes from the hippest stores. they’d be so much more beautiful if they would just let themselves age.

there is NOTHING wrong with aging.

I was in Walmart with my 9 year old grandson, he informed me everyone thinks I am his Mom. They don’t believe I’m his Nana.

I have earned every wrinkle and every grey hair on my head. I do not feel that my getting a face lift, or coloring my grey hair will truely help me be happier than I already am. I have learned that by accepting how I am is what makes me unique.

When my hair is thin and silvered,
And my time of toil is through;
When I’ve many years behind me,
And ahead of me a few;
I shall want to sit, I reckon,
Sort of dreaming in the sun;
And recall the roads I’ve traveled
And the many things I’ve done.

I hope there’ll be no picture
That I’ll hate to look upon;
When the time to paint it better
Or to wipe it out, is gone.

I hope there’ll be no vision
Of a hasty word I’ve said
That has left a trail of sorrow,
Like a whip welt sore and red.

And I hope my old age dreaming
Will bring back no bitter scene
Of a time when I was selfish,
Or a time when I was mean.

When I’m getting old and feeble,
And I’m far along life’s way,
I don’t want to sit regretting
Any bygone yesterday.

I am painting now the picture
That I’ll want someday to see;
I am filling in a canvas
That will soon come back to me.

Though nothing great is on it,
And though nothing there is fine,
I shall want to look it over
When I’m old, and call it mine.

So I do not dare to leave it
While the paint is warm and wet,
With a single thing upon it
That I later will regret.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

I don’t ever want to be a burden to my family.

I’m a few months over 27 now and I feel like I’m going on 49. It’s like I just got old overnight! One day I was cute and young and planning some fabulous life, then suddenly I’m facing the fact that I’ll probably never do most of the stuff I wanted. It’s really depressing. I hope it’s just a phase. I really am too young to feel this old!

On my way to work today I was thinking about the progress I am making on my goals and I realized I hadn’t thought about this one for a while. While “attacking” my debt, I’ve moved some of my organic food and beauty money into payments.

Instead of looking at this as a lack of progress towards this goal, I came to the conclusion that peace of mind and a secure future is the best thing I can do to ensure that I age gracefully.

I believe good grooming and maintenance are a huge help in aging gracefully. For me, it’s all about taking excellent care of myself. I’m gonna work on the nails tomorrow!

I’d like to grow old gracefully. With dignity, elegance, and with lots of fun! To share the time with the man I love. With friends beside me. To cherish my past, savour and relish in my present and look forward to what is to come. I don’t want to out stay my time.