Getting Older Wisely

I’m glad I am not enduring the high temperatures that are raging in south central Texas this summer.

The high temps in San Miguel de Allende are in the mid-80s with lows in the 50s; mild when compared to parts of the United States.

I enjoy a leisurely walk every day, and often stop in one of the many parks under the shade of a tree to do intense people watching. That is the most stressful activity that seems to highlight my day.

Sauntering the streets of SMA does include navigating hills. Up and down along cobbled streets and sidewalks, makes for a good workout if you travel very far. Truth be told, you don’t have to go very far to get your daily exercise. The center of town is either downhill or uphill, so when strolling back and forth your legs soon develop strong muscles.

Good shoes are recommended, however, it is not unusual to see flip-flops, and spiked heels on the young, the brave, or the inexperienced. I have not graduated from my New Balance running shoes that provide good ankle support. But, note, I am not young or brave.

Remembering I have passed my youthful years I ran across these suggestions for aging wisely. I copied the list from the blog https://biggeekdad.com/ and Time Goes By. I’m not certain what the original source might be. Some ideas I give a thumbs up to, and a few garner my thumb turning downward. You might look the list over, and see what fits you.

Details about each item shown are on Big Geek Dad’s blog, so check it out.

Here’s the list for getting older wisely, and the definition of ‘old’ is not exactly spelled out, so you decide if you are near that magical time of your life.

1. It’s time to use the money you have saved. Spend it and enjoy it.
2. Stop worrying about the finances of your kids and grandchildren, and don’t feel bad about spending your money on yourself.
3. Stay healthy without a lot of physical effort. Do moderate exercise, like going for walks every day, eat well and get plenty of sleep.
4. Always buy the best and most beautiful items for your significant other. The reward of enjoying your money with your partner is priceless.
5. Don’t stress over the little things in life. You’ve already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present.
6. Regardless of your age, always keep love and romance alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor, love your cat or dog.
7. Be strong and proud, both inside and out.
8. Don’t lose sight of fashion trends for your age but keep your own sense of style.
9. ALWAYS stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, surf the Internet, and watch the news. Make sure you have an active email account.
10. Respect the younger generation and their opinions. Hopefully, they will return the respect. They may not have the same ideals as you, but they are the future and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them that yesterday’s wisdom still applies today.
11. Never use the phrase: “In my day.” Your day is now. As long as you’re alive, you are part of this time.
12. Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter.
13. Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren (if you have a financial choice, that is).
14. Don’t abandon your hobbies. If you don’t have any, make some new ones.
15. Accept invitations, even if you don’t feel like it. Try to go to baptisms, parties, graduations, birthdays, weddings, and conferences. Get out of the house and meet people.
16. Be a conversationalist. Talk less and listen more. Some people go on and on about the past, not caring if their listeners are really interested. That’s a great way of reducing their desire to speak with you.
17. Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on it but accept them as a part of the cycle of life we’re all going through.
18. If you’ve been offended by someone – forgive them. If you’ve offended someone – apologize. Don’t drag around resentment with you.
19. If you have a strong belief, savor it. But don’t waste your time trying to convince others.
20. Laugh A LOT. Laugh at everything. Remember, you are one of the lucky ones. You managed to have a life, a long one.
21. Take no notice of what others say about you and even less notice of what they might be thinking. They’ll do it anyway, and you should have pride in yourself and what you’ve achieved. Let them talk and don’t worry.