Okay Birthday time again. Yes this would be my 70 th yes I said 70. The sad part of that is I can no longer say I am in my 60's. This birthday was a great one. I saw my daughters together with me for the first time in 38 years. Was a birthday to remember unlike last year,that I want to forget. I had two birthday days this year, the 24th with my daughters Donna and Kim , then on the 25th with my daughter Amie and her family. Too awesome for words, it was great.
On a sad note this is the year I lost my wife to a rare illness. We were married for 37 years and I sure miss her a great deal. I have a monument in the corner of my living room dedicated to Barbara, including the fireplace she always wanted . It has been a rather big change learning to live alone but I like to think I am doing the best I can. I will always miss my Barbara but life goes on for now.
My company for now is my beloved kittens Ellie and Lexi , and I Think they are starting to understand english, from me talking to them so much, and belive it or not they don't talk back. It has been a big change in lifestyle and I am in hopes of doing things a little different. I am trying to live everyday to the fullest and enjoy everything possible for my age. Belive it or not age, although you are wiser things come a little slower. I can do everything I used to,just a little slower. Well I just wanted to let my MANY fans know I am still above the dirt not below it. For now it is Jim signing off.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
What Could Be Great About Being Over 65?
As good as those peak work years were,and childhood and young adult years, and the child-rearing decades ,too,the time of life that begins at 65 tops them all. Of course,having those other parts of life behind me has something to do with this. A lot of "have-to's" are in the past,and I am more free than ever before to choose how I spend my time. What shall I learn more about or become better at, or what new activity shall I try.
I sense a world of possibilities, many more than when I was 18 and starting my work life. Though I am not rich and have some age related physical problems that limit what I can do, I still have some responsibilities that take up some of my time,I know that I am the happiest I've ever been. Key to this new state of being is that I find it impossible to dwell on what I don't have or can't change.
Perhaps some people were born with this attitude or developed it along the way, but I cannot imagine having reached this state earlier than 65. Becoming a card carrying member of the senior generation was a reality check. I don't have time to waste on ways in which the glass is half empty. Instead I pay attention to the good and the good within the bad. I am not preoccupied with how I can make life turn out one way or another. For the most part,it has already turned out.
I appreciate things I didn't notice earlier in my life-a strangers smile,a driver who slows to allow me to change lanes. The priorities that dictate how I spend my time are clear: the people I love,the activities I enjoy and those that keep me healthy. Observing my children move along in their life paths, does not make me long to relive mine. For me, it's great to be on the other side of those rich parts of life, free from the demands that go along with them and free from "WHAT IF" and "IF ONLY" thinking. Nothing like freedom to do what you want when you want to and enjoy it to the fullest.
I sense a world of possibilities, many more than when I was 18 and starting my work life. Though I am not rich and have some age related physical problems that limit what I can do, I still have some responsibilities that take up some of my time,I know that I am the happiest I've ever been. Key to this new state of being is that I find it impossible to dwell on what I don't have or can't change.
Perhaps some people were born with this attitude or developed it along the way, but I cannot imagine having reached this state earlier than 65. Becoming a card carrying member of the senior generation was a reality check. I don't have time to waste on ways in which the glass is half empty. Instead I pay attention to the good and the good within the bad. I am not preoccupied with how I can make life turn out one way or another. For the most part,it has already turned out.
I appreciate things I didn't notice earlier in my life-a strangers smile,a driver who slows to allow me to change lanes. The priorities that dictate how I spend my time are clear: the people I love,the activities I enjoy and those that keep me healthy. Observing my children move along in their life paths, does not make me long to relive mine. For me, it's great to be on the other side of those rich parts of life, free from the demands that go along with them and free from "WHAT IF" and "IF ONLY" thinking. Nothing like freedom to do what you want when you want to and enjoy it to the fullest.
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