DON’T GROW OLD, AGE GRACEFULLY!

My mother-in-law (who lived to be over 100 years old) chanted a rhyme to me one day and I laughed my butt off. She said, “The golden years have come at last, the golden years can kiss my ass.” Turns out it is the last two lines of a poem, author unknown by me…

The Golden Years

I cannot see
I cannot pee
I cannot chew
I cannot screw

Oh My God What can I do

My memory shrinks
My hearing stinks
No sense of smell
I look like hell!
My mood is bad - can you tell?
My body's drooping
Have trouble pooping
The Golden Years has come at last
The Golden Years can kiss my ass.

Unfortunately we all are growing older nano second by nano second. The best we can do is to take care of mind and body so the Golden Years won’t be tarnished by illness and a poor attitude. Laughter IS the best medicine. Who gives a shit about laugh lines around your eyes as long as they twinkle with mirth? It’s hard to be angry or depressed when you have just heard a great joke. If you can maintain your sense of humor, find pleasure in everyday minutia, escape routine, read a book, write a blog, walk around the block, talk to someone older than you are, you can keep your mind young and your attitude positive. There is nothing you can do about the aging of your body. Keep it moving. And don’t look in the mirror with dread. There is beauty in all stages of life. Buy some rose colored glasses!

Mickey Mantle once said, "If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself." Put this on your refrigerator. Maintaining good health is most important. It’s the first thing you should think about when you wake and the last thing you remember before you sleep. Good health can affect your mood, your relationships, and your pocketbook. If you want to work, travel, play with your grandchildren, you need to be healthy. Life doesn’t come with a manual, but look around, there are lessons for living a rewarding life everywhere. And don’t forget the sunscreen.