On Life and Love after 50 eNewsletter May 25, 2018
The list of 21
This week, I received emails from two male Champs, both widowers. The emails had similar subject lines. The first email subject line read: “Between 70 and …, an excellent list for aging.”
The second read: “Between 65 and …, good advice for aging.”
I replaced the word in each subject line with… I didn’t like the sound of it, and didn’t want to begin my eNewsletter with it. You can probably guess what the word was.
Both emails contained the identical list of 21 items for seniors to enhance their lives as they live in their later years. I was curious to know the original author of this list of 21, but in an internet search, I could not find the original writer, so I cannot give him or her credit.
People have edited the list by inserting different ages in the title: Besides 65 and 70, I saw, on the internet, where a blogger had used age 75 as well. Honestly, I don’t like the titles. I would change them to read: “Senior tips for living after age 65,” or something similar.
Granted, the list of 21 has lots of sage advice for seniors who have reached age 65 and beyond. But, as I read and reread the list, I realized that not all items apply to all seniors. Everybody’s situation is different.
The List of 21
The list of 21 is too long to include in its entirety in this column. I have posted the entire list on my website should you care to read it (the link is at end). Today, I share with you seven of the 21 items that I selected; I have taken the liberty to edit a few words for grammar and clarity purposes:
Seven Items
“Item 3. Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well and get your sleep. It’s easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs. Keep in touch with your doctor, do tests even when you’re feeling well. Stay informed.
Item #5. Don’t stress over the little things. You’ve already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don’t let the past drag you down and don’t let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten.
Item #6. Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor and remember: ‘A person is not old as long as he or she has intelligence and affection.’
Item # 11. Never use the phrase: ‘In my time.’ Your time is now; you are part of this time. You may have been younger, but you are still you now, having fun and enjoying life.
Item # 12. Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it’ll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better. Spending your time with bitter people will make you older and harder to be around.
Item # 14. Don’t abandon your hobbies. If you don’t have any, make new ones. You can travel, hike, cook, write, read, dance. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, golf. You can paint, volunteer or just collect certain items. Find something you like and spend time having fun with it.
Item # 15. Even if you don’t feel like it, try to accept invitations to baptisms, graduations, birthdays, weddings, and conferences. Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven’t seen in a while, experience something new (or something old). But don’t get upset when you’re not invited. Some events are limited by resources, and not everyone can be hosted. The important thing is to leave the house from time to time. Go to museums, go walk through a field. Get out there.”
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While conducting the research trying to find the author of the list of 21, I came across the Social Security Administration’s Life Expectancy Calculator. That piqued my personal interest. Anybody can type in his or her gender and date of birth, and the calculator spews out the average number of additional years that person might expect to live. I punched in my personal information. The link to the calculator is at the bottom of today’s eNewsletter.
There is a small disclaimer that applies to the calculator:
“Note: The estimates of additional life expectancy do not take into account a wide number of factors such as current health, lifestyle, and family history that could increase or decrease life expectancy.”
I understand there are no guarantees in life, so I accepted that disclaimer.
The calculator made me feel pretty good. It indicates, on average, I could live to age 88.2. If healthy, I’ll certainly accept that. (Mom lived to almost 99). Hopefully, I will still be writing newsletters until then as item # 14 above recommends.
One of the two lists of 21 had an unnumbered extra paragraph at the end of the list, which I liked:
“AND, REMEMBER: “Life is too short to drink bad wine!”
Amen to that.
To read the entire list of 21, go to
https://www.findingloveafter50.com/copy-of-2013-2016-enewsletters
Link to Life Expectancy Calculator:
https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/longevity.cgi
Happy Memorial Day. By the way, our Champ Les, age 92, a decorated WWII vet, is representing the USA by laying the wreath of flowers at the World War II Memorial, along with singer/performer Gary Sinise, on Memorial Day. Les will also be an honorary grand marshal of the parade. It will be on PBS TV.
Les Jones–our proud Champ–WWII vet, Purple Heart winner, amazing man, great friend
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