Grow old?

It also depends on your environment, such as living near a chemical plant. Horrible example but a random example.

There's nothing wrong with taking care of one self. But that doesn't mean things will turn out right. Or that they won't either.

The thing that scares me the most is how time passes by so quickly. In being older, time seems to go by faster. Meaning that death, or having to suffer with something before death, is coming closer to me. There's a line in a song that says, "as far as my eyes can see, there are shadows approaching me" *.

I agree with what Nonightowl had to say about - no matter how well you take care of yourself, something can still happen.

* "Old And Wise" by The Alan Parsons Project from the Eye In The Sky album. Sung by Colin Blunstone, who was a former lead singer for The Zombies.

I don't want to become too much of a burden on anyone. that's my main concern. getting to the point where all I can do is dribble or moan in pain and I need everything done for me. I really don't want that, and hopefully it won't get to that, but I suppose only time will tell

I agree. I know time is not literally going faster because it's not possible, but it sure feels like it. How can it be the middle of 2023 when it seems like recently we were masked and in lockdown?

I like that song and that artist. You're near my age so no wonder.

Thanks for putting my name in boldface and color too! I'm feeling pretty invisible and unappreciated today, so that helped that you thought enough of me to do that.

What I'm really afraid of is getting older ALONE. With our weak safety nets for people period (no matter the age), it's scaring me $hitless. No family, no friends, no neighbors to check on me. My building has such an insanely high turnover and no neighborly "vibe".

I've posted that in one of your threads about being older and alone.

And it doesn't help that our elevator has been broken for 6 months and is finally getting repaired. Although I'm in decent shape, it's still been exhausting carrying my groceries or laundry up the stairs. And the chore of those tasks takes so much longer as a result.

I can still do my own shopping, cleaning, cooking, etc. but it's getting more exhausting all the time. I worry about the day I can't do it but can't afford help either. I don't qualify for what little help we have for people.

After having bronchitis 3 times in 6 months I am finally healthy again. Glad it hit mostly in winter....but I get the stairs & laundry. My laundry is in my basement.....my bedroom is on the 2nd story. I seriously was out of breath just climbing one flight of stairs to my bedroom.....so laundry piled up for months.

So I am well now (went to a naturalpath Dr because I had a horrible reaction to the antibiotics & couldn't finish taking them).....our church has a wonderful exercise class 2 times a week so I am going to that for cardio & stretching.....besides all the work I am doing around my farm.

I coughed so hard with the bronchitis my pulse & BP went sky high.....but it is ok when I am healthy....the MD wanted to give me BP meds & I was like NO!!!! Get me well & see where it is then.....i am well & it is fine....irritates me that the first thing the medical community wants to do is throw meds at you that cause worse side effects before they truly know the cause. I am so much healthier & in better shape without meds than the people I know who have been trapped into taking them my age

I don't know what kind of attitude or philosophy to take growing older. I watch others get old and how they handle it and I think "Should I think like that?". I watch Mick Jagger and Bruce Springsteen get old and how they handle it. Seems like nothing stands in their way. I'm 59 now.

I'm 52 now. I don't think I've ever been scared of aging, but am certainly amazed how years seem to fly by faster, the older I get. So far, I don't think I "look" that old, other than having some gray hair that needs covering with dye, and one solitary deepening vertical wrinkle between my eyebrows, which I hide with bangs. As for feeling old, I do have less energy than in my youth, but am fortunately otherwise fine. I'm a little chunky, but there was a time when I was chunkier at age 39. I lost a lot of weight after that, and only slowly "inched" upwards over the years.

What is truly horrible, in my view, is gradually losing loved ones. All of my grandparents, my god mother, my mother and father, a beloved nephew, my brother, and all but two estranged blood uncles are gone. My husband's parents and grandparents are also no longer with us. There is a fear of the future losses. That's the sad reality in life! A fear one rarely thinks about in early youth. As my husband is nearly 13 years older, he may pass before me in the future. But you never know. I can see that as the biggest trauma. For that reason, I occasionally try to visualize/plan what I would do to ensure my safety, and a positive continuance. That's a dreadful assignment, but I think a helpful one. I'm generally a realistic type, with my feet firmly on the ground.

Mum passed a week before her 95th birthday. That was the hard part for her. Losing so many of her loved ones. It was especially hard on her losing her younger sister and brother. Her world definitely got smaller not just because of losing her hearing, but because her circle of acquaintances and friends died off. Near the end she had her books and then she had trouble with her eyes, that really took the fight out of her.

That’s something I fear too, haveing eye trouble.

Even though younger people can certainly lose people, as we age we're more aware of our mortality and how much time has passed. I look back and think of how much things have changed and the people I've lost.

And I wonder what they'd think of this world TODAY, especially my aunt who studied and taught sociology. What would she think of our society today?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travelinglady As the saying goes, getting old is better than its alternative. I'm in my late 60's and have a number of health problems, but I'm enjoying life!

Trav, I can be a wise arse. When people say getting old beats the alternative I usually say "as opposed to getting younger!"