Do you truly enjoy life these days?

R

Rose65

Well-known Member
Location
United Kingdom
I am reading the Little House on the Prairie books and just loving them. The way Laura and her family take each day, each season and each challenge as it comes is inspirational.
I read how she and her sisters loved school and learning so much that they didn't want even weekends to interrupt.

When did you enjoy life so much? As a child at primary school I too loved school, lessons and friends, playing, being with my best friend. Being truly excited about life. Later as a young woman in my first office jobs, I felt life was so good, earning money, contributing to my family's income. Then marriage, family life and building that life, bringing up children. Satisfying and happy.

What are the happy satisfying things about bring retired? I certainly like having a slower pace of life, pleasing myself, not being beholden to an employer or anyone. Time to read. It's health concerns that worry me, if you have good health you are lucky and can enjoy life.
 

I've got some wonderful things going on - a beautiful, loving wife, my kids are doing great, my grandkids visit and some of them spend weekends with us, the distant ones call often, I have a comfortable home, a small veggie garden and a little workshop, and the Calif weather is awesome.

The only thing I have to complain about is a bad back. It's very bad. But I know what to do when the pain approaches the intolerable level; a hot shower and a massage from my wife, or 20 minutes in the recliner, some yoga and a 1/2hr of meditation. And that's all good stuff.
 
The best years of my life was when I was in grade 7 & 8. These years I got to spend quality time away from my family for the first time in my life and I loved it. The skies opened up and it felt like the sun shone 24/7.

Then when I was in my mid twenties and went back to school to get a better education. I had the best friends and the best city life had to offer.

Then in my mid 30ā€™s I really enjoyed just walking my dog. Weā€™d walk for miles everyday and my life became one extended miracle. When I had 2 small dogs to care for, one with epilepsy who went blind from being diabetic, my life took on a whole new meaning. I cared for those two little ones like Iā€™d given birth to them. They were my entire life but when I lost them, a big part of my heart went with them.

Walking these two precious beings brought a type of joy Iā€™d never felt in my life and wonā€™t ever feel again. My life had purpose. They were my purpose. I lived to see the looks on their cute little faces and couldnā€™t feel more loved than I did back then. To them, I was a super hero. šŸ’•
 
PeppermintPatty said:
The best years of my life was when I was in grade 7 & 8. These years I got to spend quality time away from my family for the first time in my life and I loved it. The skies opened up and it felt like the sun shone 24/7.

Then when I was in my mid twenties and went back to school to get a better education. I had the best friends and the best city life had to offer.

Then in my mid 30ā€™s I really enjoyed just walking my dog. Weā€™d walk for miles everyday and my life became one extended miracle. When I had 2 small dogs to care for, one with epilepsy who went blind from being diabetic, my life took on a whole new meaning. I cared for those two little ones like Iā€™d given birth to them. They were my entire life but when I lost them, a big part of my heart went with them.

Walking these two precious beings brought a type of joy Iā€™d never felt in my life and wonā€™t ever feel again. My life had purpose. They were my purpose. I lived to see the looks on their cute little faces and couldnā€™t feel more loved than I did back then. To them, I was a super hero. šŸ’•
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Dogs are the most amazing beings. I couldn't be without canine love, far superior to any human.
 
re: Rose's post #10 and PeppermitPatty's post #11: I love but CAN NOT live with my children or grandchildren - prefer to live with Flash (the dog). Cats are OK but I need a daily walking companion and someone who doesn't complain about my cooking (ie: cats are very fussy and always leave food in the bowl - ie attract flies!).
 
Like Hollydolly I didnā€™t expect to get divorced in my senior years but we never know what life has in store for us. My health is good, I have my 2 dogs, kids, many good friends and am able to earn extra money consulting which I find enjoyable.

I absolutely love the condo I bought and have made some good friends in the building. I have been able to take some wonderful trips. I have some chronic pain but Iā€™m sure thatā€™s the norm at close to 70.
 
I try to do things I enjoy as often as possible. I enjoy getting out in nature, so I'll go to the Hoboken waterfront park on the Hudson when I can get to our oceanfront timeshare in Atlantic City. When I'm down there, I enjoy walking the boardwalk. After Labor Day, I'm going to try to go down for a couple of days at least every two weeks until it gets cold. Last week when my BFF was here from Florida, she went to Hoboken with me and it was such a nice day for both of us.

I enjoy eating at restaurants from time to time. My son treated me to crab cakes at my favorite place to get them....a diner in the next town. In a couple of weeks, I'll be treating him and his friend to dinner at his favorite place, the Grand Lux Cafe where he loves their avocado won tons. Little outings like that make me happy. I don't need extravagant trips and activities to make me happy as long as I'm with loved ones.

My childhood wasn't the happiest. I was sickly and got picked on a lot. My high school years were normal and uneventful, except that's where I met and started going steady with my first love. Starting from my 20's, for several years life was stressful for a few reasons. My second husband, who I married when I was in my late 40's, was a good, sweet man, but his ways used to really stress me out too. I think I'm happier now than I've ever been.
 
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hollydolly said:
My life is very complicated currently..not something I expected to happpen at this time in my life... hopefully one day I'll be out the other side.. and life can become more enjoyable once again..
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Sorry to hear this, but I feel you spread joy here on the forums. I've been here a short time, and appreciate the way you made me feel welcome.šŸ˜Š
 
I do enjoy life. There's always something to be positive about. I'm grateful for what I have and optimistic about the future. There's always so much to do. My favorite ages were in my teens and twenties because I had limitless energy but I'm doing well for someone my age and if an obstacle presents itself I try to find ways around it or through it. I never give up which helps me to love life because life is a learning experience and a challenge.
 
My husband turns 80 next month and I care for him,I thank God he is still mobile with a walker and in no pain at his age.We both have disabilities but could be worse so I am grateful.I try and be thankful for the small things in our lives and our friends that love us. Life throws us some curve balls and we often get tired but we must carry on for other people that need us.
 
Enjoy many things. Have much to be grateful for. Living in this extraordinary science, telecom, tech era is special.

I do have a general sadness always near. Without a wife and family, parents passed, beloved sister, 1 of 5 brothers passed, aware of humble shortcomings of my life, and my own mortality bearing down, any momentary happiness is at best tempered by that overall reality.

Each remaining day as an organic intelligent entity is precious, not to be wasted. I love life and existence greatly so hope to be saved from infinite eternal death despite its immense unknowns.
 
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