Getting older and things to be grateful for

Lovely poem lamusica. Brought a tear as I feel that way about my grandchildren.

What a lovely thread ! My greatest joy is my one and only grandchild born four years ago when I was already 77. Such a wonderful surprise so late in life. I wrote this poem about him which I’d like to share with all you lovely Grandmas.

The tiny hand in mine
Little arms around my waist
Climbing on my shoulders
Looking up into my face
“I want to stay with Grandma”
Sweet music to my ears
I haven’t felt such joy as this
for many many years

He doesn’t realise that I’m old
That my skin doesn’t fit my face
He only know I’m here for him
At any time and place
And always love him as I do
This dear grandchild of mine
I’ll do my very best to live
Until I’m ninety-nine

My

Tuaim

I suppose for me it is not having to hang out with people I don't resonate with. For years I had relatives whom I entertained but looking back, were nothing short of obnoxious and friends who drained me with their endless stories of woe. Now that I am retired I live in my own 'chosen' world of people I get on with, hobbies I enjoy and most of all have time to look after 'me' and not have to put everyone else first. If my radar picks up 'negativity' I quietly move on.

Me too and it’s a great place to be

I am with you Big Berthal, I have to practice "gratitude" and I am aware that I have a lot to be grateful for.. but....

I am grateful for good health for myself and OH, also my lovely family, good friends and still being able to travel the world.

For me, it is the security of a pension income. No worries about redundancy and suddenly not having an income, wondering how we would pay the mortgage and other bills. Worries about finding a new job, worries about keeping children clothed and in school.

I’m 66, retired 18 months, and really enjoying reading what other posters get joy from! Mine are:
1. My two DGCs, one of whom is named and gives Joy!!
2. Love Sunday nights and no Monday Schmonday feeling about work!
3. An hours read with a cuppa in my favourite chair in the early morning sunshine before my DH wakes.
4. Wearing comfortable trainers with a dress when socializing, how wonderful that it’s so acceptable now.
5. Feeling proud that my adult DCs are so conscious about caring for the environment in many ways.
6. My free bus/train pass!!
7. Working on the good friendships and letting the hard work ones slip gently away.
8. My iPhone for everything but knowing how to put it away!

Great adult children and a lovely daughter in law and grandchildren. I don't see any of them as much as I'd like as we live at a distance, but DD phones me almost every day. Accepting things that come with age is very freeing. I bought my grandson a present he was very excited about and a photo of me with him on my lap poring over the instruction sheet show the side of my head where the hair is thin and my scalp shows through. My first thought was 'What an awful photo!' and I was tempted to delete it.Then I realised it captured a really happy moment. My grandson rarely sits on my knee or even gets really close, so now it is a memory of a grandson loving his new fire engine rather than 'Bald Granny!' It's all about getting things into perspective!

Definitely the grandchildren. My two DDs and DSILs live near each other and each has a teenage son and a young daughter. Until 18 months ago we lived 300 miles away from them so only saw them a few times a year. Unfortunately I lost my husband last November but I am grateful for the fact that I am fit enough and have the energy for the girls, ages 5 & 7 years to stay overnight and to go on outings with them. I also love the fact that the boys still want to pop in to see me, even if it's only because they have been playing football on the field behind my house and they or one of their friends needs a wee or a drink 😅

I am quite a bit younger than some of the posters on this thread - 60 in December - but I took semi-retirement last year and we moved to a different part of the country and I am enjoying the freedom l now have. After nearly forty years of teaching music to others and accompanying, I now have the time to practise my music for my own enjoyment. I have goals in mind of taking diplomas in all three of my instruments ATCL (Associate of Trinity College London) on the viola, LTCL (Licentiate) on violin and FTCL (Fellowship) on the piano. These are in ascending order of difficulty and prestige. DH asked me why I want to take these exams at the end of my career rather than at the beginning especially as I was awarded my music degree in 1986. I told him that l didn’t have the time years ago as I was launching my career and then getting married and having three children, one of whom has a significant disability. It is my time now and a goal to work towards.
I think the best thing about getting older is having nothing to prove to others, only to oneself.

Ditto all the things you said ❤️

For me it is being 75 and in good health. Amazing and I feel lucky and thankful.

I love on some days just doing very little. (I'm known in my family to have "ants in my pants" most of the time.

Thank you - I have loved reading the things which give others pleasure and bring gratitude as we all get older. And today the sun has shone, the breeze has blown and I got a load of laundry dry in the garden!

Me too Henetha, we are about the same age, I am 87 in October. Given up worrying about things now, if it happens it happens, I'll deal with it then! Meanwhile I no longer hanker after "stuff".

What a lovely thread , thanks Applegran. For me it is living in the country side yet close enough to get into town , I too like hanging the washing out, grandchildren are a joy
( most of the time !!) AC within hailing distance if I need them , reasonably good health , nice house and garden , good neighbours - Iam happy.

Like others grandchildren are a great source of joy for me also my adult children.
I enjoy having a leisurely breakfast then going off for a long walk. My time is my own.
Being able to chat to friends and neighbours for as long as I want with no time restraints. I get a bit irked these days if I have an appointment that disrupts my day.
I am lucky as I love solitude but also love time with others. I like a nice balance of both.

I love not getting that 'Sunday' feeling as Monday is just another day now with no work to worry about!

I know it’s a bit late in life but I think I can finally be me., which besides making me happy is very interesting. DH says he has always known ‘I’ was there. We get along marvellously. Live in a lovely house, with great neighbours and a beautiful are. What more could we want ?

I suppose for me it is not having to hang out with people I don't resonate with. For years I had relatives whom I entertained but looking back, were nothing short of obnoxious and friends who drained me with their endless stories of woe. Now that I am retired I live in my own 'chosen' world of people I get on with, hobbies I enjoy and most of all have time to look after 'me' and not have to put everyone else first. If my radar picks up 'negativity' I quietly move on.

Grannynannywanny

My dear old Dad used to joke in his 90s “I know it’s a good day when I read the obituary column in the local paper and my name’s still not in it” 😆

My dad used to say the same when he was in his 90s.

Not worrying about sleep pattern change. I usually wake for a couple of hours in the night. So my sleep is of two halves😄😄

No work so no worry.

I am grateful for the love my four adult children give me. They are so kind and caring of this tired, old soul.

But sometimes they surprise me by treating me older than I am or older than I feel. I suppose I should just get used to that since I will be as old as they imagine me to be, before I even realize.

Catterygirl

So wish that Gransnet would introduce a like button.

->Like!<-

LauraNorderr

Grateful that I don’t have to set the alarm. Can stay up all night if I choose. Can wear what I like. Pretend to be deaf if I don’t want to answer. Can doze in the afternoon and if I leave my phone in the fridge no one bats an eyelid, it’s expected.

Oh yes LauraNorderr ha ha.
I go to bed when I like ( a night owl) and get up when I like.
I had to laugh at that. Pretend to be deaf if I don’t want to answer.
My dad had selective hearing.