I was going to say elderly choices, but I dislike the word elderly. I think of someone who can no longer take care of himself. I prefer to be old, which I am. There are a lot of choices to be made regarding a number of topics at my age. I tend to be one of those “have no care for the morrow” guys, so it’s wise to organize my thoughts. The future looks different when you are over 70. Covid-19 does not help.
The first topic that comes to mind is family. Bethany and her family just moved from Toronto to British Columbia. Nathan and his family just bought their first house in Port Townsend, Washington. Our plan had been to spend most of August in the Pacific Northwest. And this was our year to have all of them here for Christmas. Then came the virus. Now it looks like the earliest we’ll see them is next spring. (That’s close to one and a half years without being with our three precious granddaughters—rough!) We chose to keep Zack and Kallie and the girls in our bubble here in Dallas, and we’re extremely glad we did.
Not necessarily in order of importance (well, maybe), we have to make choices about our health. Sadly, we are all headed toward “..can no longer take care of myself..” or death, whichever comes first. We prolong those outcomes by taking better care of ourselves now. Our diet is a huge factor, but it’s easy to let fatalism take over and eat what you can while you can. A healthy diet is a day-by-day choice (…and then I think about starving children…). Exercise, ah. If it wasn’t for golf… It gets harder to push yourself to stay fit. I don’t pay attention to my pedometer like I used to. It takes more effort to get out of my recliner. Maintaining a healthy mental state—that’s a tricky one, but it’s as significant a factor in your overall health as either of the above. You can actually choose to stay positive. I am learning that we have more control over how we feel than I realized. Breathing helps with this one. My moods have ridden me like a bucking bronco, but I’m still riding.
All of us make financial choices, but I think it gets different for seniors. Ironically, we have to think more about the future. This is what we got, this is what we can anticipate getting, this is what we need to survive or be comfortable or whatever…we have to be practical. My two sides of the financial pendulum are: it’s God’s money—I want to do whatever He wants * and * I’d sure like to help my kids out when we’re gone. The pendulum can become a highwire at times. God is working with me on that. Karen’s Aunt Faith used to say: “Spend, save, share—as you get older, the emphasis should move from left to right.”
Our most important commodity is time. Don’t get me wrong—I don’t mean clinging to a merciless master—going out kicking and screaming—I mean how much time left that we can enjoy life. That is precious. So how do we use it? Boy, the time of corona has thrown us for a loop, hasn’t it? But I think we’re supposed to be learning to be better managers of time—not so we can accomplish more, but to slow down and appreciate the gifts of life that we already have. It’s like savoring time instead of spending it.
Haha, just realized this is a two-part essay. I have several other topics I want to address. Part II will follow on Sunday.
It’s always so nice to hear your perspective. Thank you for the weekly words of encouragement!
I’ve missed reading your words as I drifted away from Facebook for a bit to regain my spirit. I am in my mid fifties and am realizing that COVID concerns are not a small, or I’m afraid, a passing thing. I am not afraid of death, but of the possibility of outliving my three sisters. None of the four Bennett sisters wants to be the last to die, yet we dread the first to go.
I hope you can see all of your kids and grandkids soon. I’m certain you are as cool a grandpa as you were a teacher! Keep writing DM, I enjoy your blog tremendously.