This came up on my Facebook feed and it just seemed so appropriate and poignant to us that I would like to share it with you. It's long but worth a read! G
Many of us are between 65 and death, i.e. old. My friend sent me this excellent list for aging . . . and I have to agree it's good advice to follow. The guy who sent this hi-lighted #19.
1. It’s time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it. Don’t just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. Remember there is nothing more dangerous than a son or daughter-in-law with big ideas for your hard-earned capital. Warning: This is also a bad time for investments, even if it seems wonderful or fool-proof. They only bring problems and worries. This is a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet.
2. Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don’t feel bad spending your money on yourself. You’ve taken care of them for many years, and you’ve taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter and support. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money.
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.
4. Always buy the best, most beautiful items for your significant other. The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner. One day one of you will miss the other, and the money will not provide any comfort then, enjoy it together
5. Don’t stress over the little things. Like paying a little extra on price quotes. 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.
6. Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor and remember: “A man is not old as long as he has intelligence and affection.”
7. Be proud, both inside and out. Don’t stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your perfumes and creams well stocked. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong.
8. Don’t lose sight of fashion trends for your age, but keep your own sense of style. There’s nothing worse than an older person trying to wear the current fashion among youngsters. You’ve developed your own sense of what looks good on you – keep it and be proud of it. It’s part of who you are.
9. ALWAYS stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying. Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those social networks. You’ll be surprised what old friends you’ll meet. Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the people you know is important at any age.
10. Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideals as you, but they are the future, and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them that yesterday’s wisdom still applies today.
11. Never use the phrase: “In my time.” Your time is now. As long as you’re alive, you are part of this time. You may have been younger, but you are still you now, having fun and enjoying life.
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.
13. Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren (if you have a financial choice, that is). Sure, being surrounded by family sounds great, but we all need our privacy. They need theirs and you need yours. If you’ve lost your partner (our deepest condolences), then find a person to move in with you and help out. Even then, do so only if you feel you really need the help or do not want to live alone.
14. Don’t abandon your hobbies. If you don’t have any, make new ones. You can travel, hike, cook, 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 some real time having fun with it.
15. Even if you don’t feel like it, try to accept invitations. Baptisms, graduations, birthdays, weddings, 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.
16. Be a conversationalist. Talk less and listen more. Some people go on and on about the past, not caring if their listeners are really interested. That’s a great way of reducing their desire to speak with you. Listen first and answer questions, but don’t go off into long stories unless asked to. Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really need to. Try to accept situations as they are. Everyone is going through the same things, and people have a low tolerance for hearing complaints. Always find some good things to say as well.
17. Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of the cycle of life we’re all going through. Try to minimize them in your mind. They are not who you are, they are something that life added to you. If they become your entire focus, you lose sight of the person you used to be.
18. If you’ve been offended by someone – forgive them. If you’ve offended someone - apologize. Don’t drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter. It doesn’t matter who was right. Someone once said: “Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Don’t take that poison. Forgive, forget and move on with your life.
19. If you have a strong belief, savor it. But don’t waste your time trying to convince others. They will make their own choices no matter what you tell them, and it will only bring you frustration. Live your faith and set an example. Live true to your beliefs and let that memory sway them.
20. Laugh. Laugh A LOT. Laugh at everything. Remember, you are one of the lucky ones. You managed to have a life, a long one. Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full life. But you did. So what’s not to laugh about? Find the humor in your situation.
21. Take no notice of what others say about you and even less notice of what they might be thinking. They’ll do it anyway, and you should have pride in yourself and what you’ve achieved. Let them talk and don’t worry. They have no idea about your history, your memories and the life you’ve lived so far. There’s still much to be written, so get busy writing and don’t waste time thinking about what others might think. Now is the time to be at rest, at peace and as happy as you can be!
REMEMBER: “Life is too short to drink bad wine and warm beer.”
The last thing I want or need is smug advice from some patronising clever clogs.
There is nothing in that list that isn't part of most people's way of life anyway, regardless of age. If it isn't, they are unlikely to read a list like this and take note of it.
He, and I am sure it was a he, should have limited his advice to the last line and then could have come over as a witty and wise person.
Oh dear! Someone has taken the trouble to repost something they found helpful/interesting and what happens?
Out come all the ‘no one’s telling me what to do!’ posts.
???
And why shouldn't they?
Actually mine wasn't a ‘no one’s telling me what to do!’ posts. It was a 'so what is there in this list that most people are not doing already' post.
The list is far to wordy. Good advice, to be taken seriously, has to be punchy and to the point. The last line was.
I dislike any advice that thinks I need to be taught how to suck eggs.
I really liked this and have printed it off so I can pay it attention regularly I think its sounds advice.
How rude and ungrateful to crtitsise what someone has bothered to write.
I think it has been cut and pasted from FB wot
Yet another of those earnest, well-meaning reams of advice which tell grannies how to suck eggs.
Well I really liked that. Glad to say a lot of those points are already my mantras.
Why are some of you disliking it and saying it is patronising? Just curious, not being judgemental before I get accused of that!
The only bit I wasn’t keen on was the son and daughter in laws plans for my money bit!
Glad to say a lot of those points are already my mantras. Therefore do you need to be told by person or persons unknown storynanny when you are already full of common sense?
Social media is awash with this type of 'advice'.
storynanny I’ve just looked up ‘patronising’ and the definition I found was treat with an apparent kindness which betrays a feeling of superiority which just about sums up the post, I think.
I didn’t like the recurring advice to spend money on ourselves because we somehow ‘deserve’ it.
I have the right to spend my own money as I choose.
That may take the form of indulging myself, but it’s equally valid to give money to my children or to charity, if I wish.
But isn’t it a nice feeling in life to realise that some things you do as a matter of course are acknowledged by someone else to be “ a good thing”?
And sometimes we need gentle reminders to take better care of ourselves, especially when we are immersed in busy lifestyles.
I agree with absent another Nanny type person telling us how to live our lives.
I agree storynanny. My husband says "if you can't see something nice say nothing at all". (from Bambi??) Not always possible of course.
if you can't see something nice say nothing at all
Short and to the point!
Like this:
REMEMBER: “Life is too short to drink bad wine and warm beer.”
But isn’t this how GN is these days?
Does anyone ever stop and think how the OP must feel reading some of these remarks?
Googoogool Very witty, and some of the points are very true, especially good wine and warm beer ??
um that shoud be say something nice!
shoud?? I give up! I must learn to type.
Many of us are between 65 and death
Sorry OldMeg, annep and others - that phrase alone put me off! It may be true but I don't wish to be reminded of the fact that I may be in God's waiting room.
And I have had more than my fill of this kind of stuff which keeps popping up on FB (which I can delete).
I do find it interesting. The comments too re: peeps who might have ideas for our hard earned cash, well I have seen a couple of people inherit early and I have to say it has been a case of easy come, easy go. Food for thought!
Our children remind us (jokingly) to be nice to them as they will be the ones choosing our care home if we go 'batty'!!!!
No 2 on the list is definitely me....I must stop !!
I think its foolish to spend all our extra moneyNOW. I visit old people in homes and it is very nice for them If they know there is a bit in the bank for energencies.
It is very common for one generation to leave a bit of money to the next and I intend to do so if I can.
I knew all that he/ she said and really don’t need to go on face book to read lectures on how to live my life after all I have some years experience of living.
I enjoyed reading it. Some useful reminders (like trying to accept invitations and encouraging, not criticising younger generations). Thanks for posting!
So Jalima you are saying that the OP should not have posted this? 
Incidentally I detest that phrase you’ve use God’s waiting room yuk!
I am really surprised to read some of the comments on here.
Actually if we didn’t like it at all, probably best to say nothing.
If we did find it interesting, or some of it, as not all of it will be relevant to everyone, it is nice for the OP to hear that.
Thanks for sharing.
I must admit I never share the stuff I read on F....b...k, whether I like it or not.
Incidentally, I wish there was a “like”. button on GN.
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