How old am I? You’ve
probably heard the rhetorical question about how old you would think you are if
you didn’t know (and didn’t have a mirror handy!) Being a person prone to self-reflection, I
wondered how old I would think I am.
Like most men, I do have a bit of a 12 year old that peeks out on
occasion. I am also in decent health, stay fairly active, am open to learning
about new things and observant. Those
traits keep me from being too much of a “grumpy old man”. My dad, when he was still alive often joked
about the “old people” in his church, who he would find later to be the same
age or even younger than he was. So in
his 70 and early 80’s he felt younger than he imagined he should feel at
70+. He also stayed active until his
last year . But I am turning 60 this
year. That is a milestone, for
sure. I retired a few years back,
another milestone. I started wearing
glasses in my late 30’s, was diagnosed with borderline high blood pressure a
few years back and had other aches and issues associated with a person of my
age. I would have said that I feel
younger than my years, or that I am younger at heart than others my age, but
that is making assumptions that are not necessarily true, just a bit self
serving and maybe a bit of self denial as well. No, I feel almost 60. I am bald, grey haired
(what’s left), I have to fight the
various issues of age and am seen as an “old guy” by the majority of people I
run into daily. I’m ok with that, I
earned it. Yes, I will keep watching my
weight, working out, taking vitamins, learning about new things, but I am no
longer young. I will be lucky to have 10
more good years (without serious health issues, loss of some ability I have
now, etc.) I am ok with that too. Sure I could live 20-30 more years, but probably
only about 10 will allow the level of activity and functioning and freedom from
serious medical concerns I have
now. So I plan on making the most of the
next 10 while I can. I will try to enjoy
every day I have and not plan too far in the future for the stuff I really want
to do. Not bad advice at any age.
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