Getting older has its ups and downs

What question did the lady ask? She wanted to know why, in a column entitled Aging, isn’t there more attention given to aging issues? Good question. Today, I’ll try to spend time specifically on that topic.

Many of us in the older category are unfortunately aware of some of the problems that come with older age. We haven’t got the same old git-up-and-go we once had. Physical conditions remind us of real differences. Balance is not so certain. We don’t skip on icy stretches of walks now, we are very careful because getting up after a fall is not a simple matter. Memory is not so good, and the list goes on.

Any advantages of older age? Someone will be certain to point out others that I’ve overlooked, but right now these are my favorites:

Clothes you have won’t wear out, which saves money and shopping chores.

Nothing is left to learn the hard way; you’ve already made all the tough ones you had to make. Now you get, when necessary, the youngster next door to help you with computer problems.

Your brain cells are down to a manageable size — very much so.

Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can’t remember them either.

You consider morning coffee one of the most important things each day. I get mine with other old friends, Julie’s at 6 a.m.

Age is just a number, and we can choose to keep that unlisted.

We don’t have to worry about wrinkles; they are merely antique smiles.

Most of us become kinder to ourselves. We don’t chide ourselves, as often, for eating that extra dessert.

We are survivors. We were here before TV, frozen foods, contact lenses, cell phones, radar, credit cards, split atoms, laser beams, ballpoint pens, electric blankets, iPads, 5 and 10 cent stores, artificial hearts and men on the moon to name only a very, very few.

We remember some things in the negative column such as when cigarette smoking was popular as an example.

In earlier times, poems rhymed as does the following, I’d like to share, which helps us maintain a positive attitude in our older years:

If we noticed little pleasures

As we notice little pains

If we quite forgot our losses

And remembered all our gains

If we looked for people’s virtues

And their faults refused to see

What a comfortable happy, cheerful place

This world would always be.

I want to wish that you may have more than enough in 2012. Enough of what? Enough:

happiness to keep you sweet,

trials to keep you strong.

sorrow to keep you human.

hope to keep you happy.

failure to keep you humble.

success to keep you eager.

friends to give you comfort.

wealth to meet your needs.

enthusiasm to look forward.

faith to banish depression.

determination to make each day better than yesterday.

Bernie Hughes, Ed.D, is a retired educator who resides in Superior. He can be reached at bernie3024@centurytel.net.

Tags: community, seniors