Best newsletter yet. My Family come to me for words of wisdom and advice and I love feeling respected and "head" of my 4 generations. Very kind regards to you from a friend Downunder xx
Wow - the best is hard to beat. I am so glad you are a wisdom and advice giver to your family. It is valuable stuff. My children have carved their own wonderful paths and don't really seek out our wisdom. Perhaps we've raised them so well they don't (yet) need it. lol
Hi Lesley, I KNOW what you wrote would surely be true re you Family. Though no longer travelling Internationally, I do read your Newsletters and miss you all very much. xxx
A thought-provoking topic! I’ve decided to stick with John O’Donohue who said that “The passionate heart never ages”. . . and so I aspire to be both passionate and aware of my personal biases about ageing. I’m optimistic that, as more of us enjoy relatively good health and functional status in our later years, the negative stereotypes associated with ageing will shift. (I really enjoyed the videos - thank you! YouTube has several interesting interviews of Jenny describing her experiences.)
I so agree with John O'Donohue. I love everything he wrote. And yes, I, too, am hoping society will gain a new awareness of what being older is. We are the healthiest older population ever and it continues to improve. I watched a couple of Jenny's videos. She's so wise.
I detest the word "elderly"...I had several great role models I worked for...one was 100. She still lived on her own and when her family decided they wanted to move to Florida and that she had to move to assisted living, her response was, "I don't want to live there, that's for old people".
My favorite saying is "Be the Exception"...I have a bracelet with that on...so I see it every time I look down on my wrist. It keeps me going.
It's a matter of outlook, sometimes combined with physical issues that contribute to the outlook. In my mind, I will NEVER be old. My body is another thing, but I will always be exploring and learning and young in my mind and heart. I know others, one in particular, who wanted to be retired from age 35 and does nothing but sleep and nap and some chores. There is zero willingness to embrace TODAY over watching reruns. For me, my feet and hands may be able to do less, but I still push to do as much as I can... and that second t shirt: Wear it out for the world to see!
My hands are my worry. They ain't what they used to be but my philosophy is use them or lose them. Apparently, I have severe carpel tunnel but no symptoms other than some loss of strength. When does being a creator ever stop? I wish us both good long use of our hands.
Lesley, I don't like the word elderly. To me it means someone in a nursing home. My dad died at 75 and never considered himself a senior citizen. I don't mind that term, and it does come with some bennys. I do like elders, which infers wisdom. I'm just amazed that in my mind I'm still in my 30s but my body tells me that not so! Great article.
What I wish, is that we can take this hard earned wisdom with us for the next life and have it when we are YOUNG! I have so many things that I still want to do and achieve. I do have the feeling the time is running short or shorter than it was when one was, say, 50 yrs old. Starting one's
Life over at 50 is hard, starting one's life over at 60 is harder. Yet, all we can do is put one foot in front of the other and keep on going enjoying the small wonders of life in the moments as they come. If we do not enjoy the wonder of life, that is when we die spiritually and then, physically. I think Elders know this. They have a knowing. Just because you are old, does not make you an elder. Some old people are mean. Some old people are selfish. So what attributes make an elder? I think that is the discussion.
Wouldn't that be awesome? Cumulative wisdom carried across time. Your words are wise - enjoying the small wonders of life in the moments as they come. If we do not enjoy the wonder of life, that is when we die spiritually. Thank you for sharing.
The video was hilarious! I saw the quote about it being weird to be the same age as old people a few months ago and it made me laugh- it’s so true. I’m 66 and getting ready to retire but I definitely don’t feel old or elderly- we need a new term for the time when you really can’t say your middle-aged (unless you expect to be 120 or older!) but aren’t old. I like elder. When my grandsons were “tweens” (between 11 and 13) we decided I’m a “tween again,” between middle age and old or elderly. It seems like the older we get the less our mental age (how old we feel) and our physical age match up.
Yes, that is interesting how mental age and physical differ so much, but it's a good thing isn't it. Glad you found the video as funny as I did. It rings true from observing some of the younger parents I know.
Lesley- Some great points here. Particularly this one: “If I am a senior citizen does that mean everyone under 60 is a junior citizen?” Agree with you: elderly is a strange word.
I think once one is 80, 90 and 100 they are certainly BOTH elderly and elders!! How does one think of their parents if still alive? I think of my mom (84 yrs old) as elderly even though she still has the energy of the universe!! I am looking forward to being an elder (which I think is the age of 70) and of being 65 because I can camp 1/2 price in FL!! LOL. At what age, can we do what we want to do, to be a full time creator? I am making headway but it will be a while before I am there.
Yes, there is a point where elderly is appropriate. It just isn't a one size fits all moniker. How many "kids" bristle at that as they begin to blossom into young men and ladies?
Mind over matter. I so disagree with what my body says but we do need to listen and keep her running happily when we can. And yes, curiosity is key. And guess what! My Medicare wellness visit is next week, lol.
Best newsletter yet. My Family come to me for words of wisdom and advice and I love feeling respected and "head" of my 4 generations. Very kind regards to you from a friend Downunder xx
Wow - the best is hard to beat. I am so glad you are a wisdom and advice giver to your family. It is valuable stuff. My children have carved their own wonderful paths and don't really seek out our wisdom. Perhaps we've raised them so well they don't (yet) need it. lol
Hi Lesley, I KNOW what you wrote would surely be true re you Family. Though no longer travelling Internationally, I do read your Newsletters and miss you all very much. xxx
Miss you too. I dream of another trip down under but……….
A thought-provoking topic! I’ve decided to stick with John O’Donohue who said that “The passionate heart never ages”. . . and so I aspire to be both passionate and aware of my personal biases about ageing. I’m optimistic that, as more of us enjoy relatively good health and functional status in our later years, the negative stereotypes associated with ageing will shift. (I really enjoyed the videos - thank you! YouTube has several interesting interviews of Jenny describing her experiences.)
I so agree with John O'Donohue. I love everything he wrote. And yes, I, too, am hoping society will gain a new awareness of what being older is. We are the healthiest older population ever and it continues to improve. I watched a couple of Jenny's videos. She's so wise.
I detest the word "elderly"...I had several great role models I worked for...one was 100. She still lived on her own and when her family decided they wanted to move to Florida and that she had to move to assisted living, her response was, "I don't want to live there, that's for old people".
My favorite saying is "Be the Exception"...I have a bracelet with that on...so I see it every time I look down on my wrist. It keeps me going.
How wonderful to have a 100 yr old role model. That's my goal now, to be a 100 year old role model. We can be the exception. Thanks for commenting.
It's a matter of outlook, sometimes combined with physical issues that contribute to the outlook. In my mind, I will NEVER be old. My body is another thing, but I will always be exploring and learning and young in my mind and heart. I know others, one in particular, who wanted to be retired from age 35 and does nothing but sleep and nap and some chores. There is zero willingness to embrace TODAY over watching reruns. For me, my feet and hands may be able to do less, but I still push to do as much as I can... and that second t shirt: Wear it out for the world to see!
My hands are my worry. They ain't what they used to be but my philosophy is use them or lose them. Apparently, I have severe carpel tunnel but no symptoms other than some loss of strength. When does being a creator ever stop? I wish us both good long use of our hands.
Lesley, I don't like the word elderly. To me it means someone in a nursing home. My dad died at 75 and never considered himself a senior citizen. I don't mind that term, and it does come with some bennys. I do like elders, which infers wisdom. I'm just amazed that in my mind I'm still in my 30s but my body tells me that not so! Great article.
Thank you, Lynda. I do appreciate our senior benefits - it's one way we are recognized as opposed to being invisible. To the elders!
What I wish, is that we can take this hard earned wisdom with us for the next life and have it when we are YOUNG! I have so many things that I still want to do and achieve. I do have the feeling the time is running short or shorter than it was when one was, say, 50 yrs old. Starting one's
Life over at 50 is hard, starting one's life over at 60 is harder. Yet, all we can do is put one foot in front of the other and keep on going enjoying the small wonders of life in the moments as they come. If we do not enjoy the wonder of life, that is when we die spiritually and then, physically. I think Elders know this. They have a knowing. Just because you are old, does not make you an elder. Some old people are mean. Some old people are selfish. So what attributes make an elder? I think that is the discussion.
Wouldn't that be awesome? Cumulative wisdom carried across time. Your words are wise - enjoying the small wonders of life in the moments as they come. If we do not enjoy the wonder of life, that is when we die spiritually. Thank you for sharing.
One more comment- the video on aging is wonderful. Thank you for sharing it.
Thanks. It is wonderful.
The video was hilarious! I saw the quote about it being weird to be the same age as old people a few months ago and it made me laugh- it’s so true. I’m 66 and getting ready to retire but I definitely don’t feel old or elderly- we need a new term for the time when you really can’t say your middle-aged (unless you expect to be 120 or older!) but aren’t old. I like elder. When my grandsons were “tweens” (between 11 and 13) we decided I’m a “tween again,” between middle age and old or elderly. It seems like the older we get the less our mental age (how old we feel) and our physical age match up.
Yes, that is interesting how mental age and physical differ so much, but it's a good thing isn't it. Glad you found the video as funny as I did. It rings true from observing some of the younger parents I know.
Lesley- Some great points here. Particularly this one: “If I am a senior citizen does that mean everyone under 60 is a junior citizen?” Agree with you: elderly is a strange word.
Thank you, Thalia.
Great video on the woman who is "four years away from 90'! Really wonderful. Thank you for sharing the wisdom.
I think once one is 80, 90 and 100 they are certainly BOTH elderly and elders!! How does one think of their parents if still alive? I think of my mom (84 yrs old) as elderly even though she still has the energy of the universe!! I am looking forward to being an elder (which I think is the age of 70) and of being 65 because I can camp 1/2 price in FL!! LOL. At what age, can we do what we want to do, to be a full time creator? I am making headway but it will be a while before I am there.
Yes, there is a point where elderly is appropriate. It just isn't a one size fits all moniker. How many "kids" bristle at that as they begin to blossom into young men and ladies?
Mind over matter. I so disagree with what my body says but we do need to listen and keep her running happily when we can. And yes, curiosity is key. And guess what! My Medicare wellness visit is next week, lol.