Thanks for sharing this journey into aging. Let's begin by saying, "Old and age are not four-letter words." (Repeat that four times.)
If anything in this post makes you smile, excellent! (Yes, one corner-up counts.) Notice that people who reach very old age often laugh lot. That’s the Preface in adjusting to the idea of being elderly, but there’s more to learn. Much more….
Prepare to Be Slow
If you’re used to moving along at a clip or turning sharply on the proverbial dime, stop! Your typical adult-life pace will eventually topple you over or blow a spinal disc or throw your knees out or all of the above.
Expect to Be Clumsy, well, sometimes
Get a thermos-like bottle with a fold-up-and-down thingy to sip through. Take this with you wherever you go, even if you think you’re sitting safely, watching TV with a snack. Otherwise, when you grab the remote to change that terrible show you never meant to watch, the chances of knocking over a drink increase with each year-alive. If you’re super tired, careless, or a natural klutz, those odds double. No judgment, just an observation (or expectation.)
Curb Your Pride and Buy a Cane if You’re Apt to Be Tipsy (unless you had too much to drink, and then it won’t hold you up but might tempt you to whack somebody.)
If you’re having balance issues, get a cane with four-toes for steadiness. If yours didn’t come with that feature, measure the cane's diameter and order one online. Better yet, buy a more sure-footed cane in your favorite color.
Find a Hobby You Enjoy that Requires Movement
No, playing Bridge to exercise your wrists doesn’t count. Remember, all activities aren’t rivalries. But don’t be surprised if someone older than you beats you at pickle-ball.
If You Need Help, Ask
Face it. Getting old is no time to be full of yourself. Pride, at this stage, is even more likely to go before a fall. If you’ve always been the person who likes to help others, move over! Give someone else a chance to feel good about helping.
Expect Sleep Patterns to Change
Besides getting up a dozen times a night to head to the head, you might find worries, schedules, or memories flooding in, right when you wanted to forget everything and go to sleep. (As an expert on the subject, I’m writing this at 5 a.m. after an hour or two of naps.) Pain often keeps us awake too. And so does too much stimulation too late, so end your evening with something boring.
Stop Saving Pretty Much Anything for a Special Occasion
Being God’s child is special, and so is being alive! If you have something nice, enjoy it. Use that sterling silver flatware you're prepared to polish. Wear that pricey silk tie you bought on a whim. Toss your grandmother’s hand-embroidered cloth over the table and don’t serve anything that stains.
Scale Down
Ask your kids, grands, and other relatives (in that order) if there’s something of yours they would enjoy having. Otherwise, if you don’t need it, don’t use it, or don’t like it, give it away. In our one-stoplight town, three churches have secondhand shops with other charitable organizations close enough to haul stuff.
Take Care of Your Eyes
Aging eyes often need cataract surgery, which is not a big deal for most people (unless you’re a big crybaby) but shouldn’t be done too soon or too late. i.e., Too soon increases the likelihood of having to do it again. Too late creates a gummy-bear film. Just right can usually be determined if you glance at a light and see a blue ring – not to be confused with the blue light special.
Take Care of All Body Parts, Seen or Unseen
Keep up checkups with your dentist, doctor, and shoe salesperson. Yes, feet do change sizes, especially if your weight goes up or down. If you feel like Big-Foot and someone dares to ask your size, simply lie if you still care more about what other people think than who you or they truly are.
Care More and More What God Thinks
Read the Bible in several translations. (No, King James will not be mad, but I don’t know about Shakespeare.) Follow online devotionals. Buy devotional books to read every morning or evening or both. Keep instrumental Christian hymns playing throughout the day. (I found many on You-Tube. My favorites include the lyrics, so I can sing along without resorting to La-La-La.)
Pray
Pray for your family. Pray for your church and all of God’s people around the world. (Okay. Be inclusive. Pray for anyone and everyone you really, really, really do not like.)
Speak God’s promises over the news. Pray for leaders everywhere. Pray WITH people who need immediate prayer even if they happen to be in the next stall of a public restroom.
Pray for yourself. Pray, pray, pray for God to guide and strengthen you. Pray to see God’s view and express your forever joy in Jesus’ Name.
P.S. Part 2 might look more serious. Regardless, if you have a tip to share or question to ask, please do in the Comment below. Thanks and blessings.
