Is your journey through 'old age' a mystery to you? How do you deal with that?

W

Wes

Member
Location
southern california
As a child until 18 my parents guided me through that period of my life. As an adult much was written and discussed everywhere about what life is and should be lived. But, except for doctors and the medical profession, there does not seem much guidance on how to get through old age. How do you manage your experience? Just wing it? Or do you find some sort of guide? Youth and adulthood flowed toward something and beyond that. But, old age ends only one way. How do you manage knowing that this stage ends only one way? What perspectives do you marry yourself to as your life before you rolls towards its end?
 

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I kind of wing it and seek guidance from wherever I can find it. I try to be flexible as my needs and desires change. Sometimes talking with friends, family, the SF, or even professionals can help. I look for joy and purpose in whatever way I can. There are hobbies, volunteer work, or I like spending time alone. I try to remember to treat myself as a friend. :)
 
Ever since I was born, I've lived very comfortably in my own company. I've always been able to entertain myself.

When I met my wife and decided to marry, I always felt that things outside of myself were an annoying distraction from the things that really bring me contentment.

So I've spent the years after my wife died and my kids grew up, trying to get back to the quiet solitude that I've always considered my place in life.

I enjoy favorite music, favorite TV shows, word puzzles, reading internet forum posts, trying to make people smile who read my posts.

I enjoy people in small doses.

I still work from home with my favorite computer aided design/drafting application. I get 5 weeks of vacation time which I like to take as Fridays off.

I drive on occasion when the mood suits me.

I do my laundry at a laundromat so I get out of the house and interact with people. On those days, I try to grab something to eat at a favorite diner or other eatery.

Life is about making yourself happy no matter what your circumstances. If your health is failing you, then you know your time is limited. You then have to look at your life as a whole story you might read in a book. And that you're living the final chapters. You saw other people grow old and die knowing it would be your fate as well one day. Knowing this should just convince you even more strongly that life has always been about what you make of it.

The greatest thing about your later years is that your time is your own to enjoy in whatever way you wish. If age slows you down, just feel privileged to experience what loved ones before you went through. You're walking in their shoes just like you have been your entire life.
 
Old age for me is no different than any other time in my life of course I am older and a bit more experienced. I take each day one at a time and enjoy each day. Seems like, when I lose my health that will change, but it also would have changed if I lost my good health at a younger age, so it really is not different than any other age to me.

Life has always been a mystery to me! That's part of the drive I have to get up every day to find out what is going to happen...
 
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OldFeller said:
Ever since I was born, I've lived very comfortably in my own company. I've always been able to entertain myself.

When I met my wife and decided to marry, I always felt that things outside of myself were an annoying distraction from the things that really bring me contentment.

So I've spent the years after my wife died and my kids grew up, trying to get back to the quiet solitude that I've always considered my place in life.

I enjoy favorite music, favorite TV shows, word puzzles, reading internet forum posts, trying to make people smile who read my posts.

I enjoy people in small doses.

I still work from home with my favorite computer aided design/drafting application. I get 5 weeks of vacation time which I like to take as Fridays off.

I drive on occasion when the mood suits me.

I do my laundry at a laundromat so I get out of the house and interact with people. On those days, I try to grab something to eat at a favorite diner or other eatery.

Life is about making yourself happy no matter what your circumstances. If your health is failing you, then you know your time is limited. You then have to look at your life as a whole story you might read in a book. And that you're living the final chapters. You saw other people grow old and die knowing it would be your fate as well one day. Knowing this should just convince you even more strongly that life has always been about what you make of it.

The greatest thing about your later years is that your time is your own to enjoy in whatever way you wish. If age slows you down, just feel privileged to experience what loved ones before you went through. You're walking in their shoes just like you have been your entire life.
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Absolutely! No stress. Just appreciate every day and pay attention to the little details of life. Enjoy!
 
I manage my life by thanking God every night for his many, many blessings, it seems like lately I have thought of all my blessings throughout my life, child, adult and now senior. I was pretty wild as a teenager and adult and I truly believe he is the reason I made it, he is the reason my children have lived through their wild and crazy times, one son for yrs took handfuls of Zanax, and the other did meth for many many yrs,
Now they both are in their mid-40s with good jobs and living pretty well. So I do not worry much about the kiddos anymore, there were times I truly thought I would die from the worry with those two. I have a pretty peaceful life now.
I enjoy people in small doses myself and I so enjoy doing as I want, I can sit all day, go places all day, see people all day, shop all day, lay down all day if I feel bad, etc. It is so peaceful and quiet. I live in apartments surrounded by other seniors so I have plenty of folks to visit with without leaving the premises. And I love having my 2 furbabies so I am far from really being alone.
 
I take each day one hour at a time . I make sure I have things to look forward to like making meals together, playing with the dogs or walking them. I watch television some just to distract me. At the moment, I’m streaming Heartland, a very innocent country type drama series that’s Canadian produced. I also like listening to YouTube for things like Dan Gibson - solitudes.

I feed the birds and watch them. There’s a continuous stream of chickadees, a handful of nuthatches and woodpecker’s, crows, mourning doves, finches, juncos, starlings, and other assorted birds. Sometimes I paint them.

I’m musical so play the saxophone and sing often. I’ve got a keyboard I haven’t played in a while. Getting extra involved in hobbies takes my mind off of dying.

Obsessing and rumination are things I often do also which is why I come here. It helps unstick my obsessions. Plus I like the company. I count my blessings and practice patience.

I hope you all have a good day.

PP💜
 
The journey through "old age" is no different than the journey experienced after leaving home to begin my path in life. During those 1st. 42 years adapting to the changes was dealt with. Figure "old age" began @70 so at that time & for the last 12 years been adapting to "old age".

Left home @18
42 years adapting to changes.
22 years retired

Been really successful at adapting. Fairly good health & enjoying life everyday.
 
I am a sojourner in this life. Just passing through, not here to tarry, or for long to linger. I am here to discover and see what I can see. There is not much which escapes my attention. I like to study all the tiny details of life which I find everyday spread out before me. I find that much can be learned and understood, and appreciated, simply by paying attention to the tiny details of life.

When my reconnaissance here on Earth is concluded and I have made a full and accurate reporting of my most amazing adventure, I will then move on to the next reality that needs to be studied and reported upon.

It is for the Creator that I do this work. It pleases the Creator to see and experience the reality It has manifested. The Great Spirit wishes to see it through multiple lenses, eyes, minds, perspectives. Mine is only one of many perspectives.

I enjoy this work that I do. I am doing it because it is what I feel I was created to do, but I also do it for me and for you, because I know it is a help to the spiritual growth and development of all people, helping others by first getting a handle on myself.

And this is because we are all in this boat together, connected together, as if that one Great Spirit is what we collectively and individually, secretly, really are -- the collective consciousness, the cosmic consciousness, the immortal soul. I Am That I Am. I can say no more.
 
Wes said:
But, except for doctors and the medical profession, there does not seem much guidance on how to get through old age.
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I don't feel like there is anywhere near enough guidance for medical issues. Over and over I've wished for an old age version of those 'Your body is changing' books that kids going through puberty are given.

What aspects of old age do you see a lack of guidance for?

After I retired the lack of deadlines and goals was a new feeling, but then I just observe my cat and his complete lack of concern about being productive and that makes me feel okay about not particularly accomplishing anything.
 

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