Posted on 04/14/2025 2:20:29 AM PDT by Cronos
In 2000, I published a book called “Rules for Aging,” a sort of how-to guide for navigating the later years of one’s life. I was 60 at the time and thought that I knew a thing or two about being old. Twenty-five years later, I just finished a sequel, which reflects my advice for growing very, very old. (I have been doing a lot of that lately.) It took me 85 years to learn these things, but I believe they’re applicable at any age.
1. Nobody’s thinking about you.
It was true 25 years ago, and it’s true today. Nobody is thinking about you. Nobody ever will. Not your teacher, not your minister, not your colleagues, not your shrink, not a soul. It can be a bummer of a thought. But it’s also liberating. That time you fell on your butt in public? That dumb comment you made at dinner last week? That brilliant book you wrote? No one is thinking about it. Others are thinking about themselves. Just like you.
2. Make young friends.
3. Try to see fewer than five doctors.
4. Get a dog.
5. Don’t hear the cheers.
6. Everyone’s in pain.
7. Listen for Bob Marley.
8. Join a gang.
This advice is meant for men more than women, because women are always part of one group or another.
Men, on the other hand, are solitary, static things. Generals without wars, astride iron horses.
9. On regrets.
They’re part of life. Learn to live with them.
10. Start and end every day by listening to Louis Armstrong.
“West End Blues” or anything, really. I won’t tell you why. But you’ll thank me.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
“if 85 is very very old, what’s this author gonna call 90, 95, 100 or more?”
Psalm 90:10
“it is soon cut off, and we fly away”
A nice breakfast and a few productive minutes on the toilet would work for me!
I used to listen to Trini Lopez; and he said: “If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife.”
I have since found this to be untrue. I married a pretty one 57 years ago. She’s still pretty; we’re still happy.
Our happiness resides in knowing the Lord and His Word.
I’m 85 and I agree with all of it!!
I call my age, 67, my young old years. Everything still works almost as well, or at least well enough, so life is not too much of a bother. Just keep moving and learn new things that you might not have had time for when you were young and raising a family. Try to use different parts of your brain for various endeavours. New recipes, be engaging with folks who help you out at the grocery store (it brightens their day too to know they are not nameless clerks) and go to church. I think for me the key is relationship (but I’m a woman) and movement. My neighbor is turning 100 this July. She gardened and mowed her own lawn up until a few years back. But she still walks to her mail box, drives her car during non-peak hours, and maintains her friendships. She only takes blood pressure medication. When I visited her last she looked pretty frail and tired, but she said that she liked to keep moving so she doesn’t lose the ability to. Cheers to everyone from the young Oldies, Middle Oldies and Old Oldies. We can make it through with God’s help and our faith. Personally I hope He calls me home before I hit my 90s but I have a brother with an intellectual disability and I would not like for him to be left alone. But God’s will be done in all things.
Scratching my head on "Don't hear the cheers" too.
Chances are a man surnamed Rosenblatt is not thinking of Jesus ;)
I like your list mm. And I think you make young friends if you are part of even a small church body.
I think don’t hear the cheers means don’t get arrogant.
Aye, but he should.
Richard Feynman (Nobel Prize winner in Physics, 1965) had a motto: “What do you care what other people think.”
We’re VERY active in our church. Mostly old congregation, sadly. We could find a younger crowd in another church, but would have to compromise on many things, and we won’t do that. Faithful teaching of the Word. Contemporary music. Etc
“I also doubt that listening to Bob Marley will do anything for me.”
I think what he’s referring to is Marley’s advice - “Don’t Worry, be Happy!”
He experienced many years of depression and anger after the death of his daughter so I’m sure Bob Marley’s confrontational style and message of overcoming struggle continues to resonate.
I’m 92 and I call this article “horse poop”...
Having children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren is the key to a happy old age...
Plus, having a wife you met in 1958 and married in 1960...
You can take care of the first, having children. You can raise your children right, but you really have no control over grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He has two sons, several grandkids, great grandkids and a daughter that died suddenly...the one that calls that “horse poop” for trying to be inclusive of all family types (and singles)...you need to take that up with the author.
Wow. 65 years of marriage. Congratulations!
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