As someone who is at the age where gray hair has completely taken over, I have been contemplating my next chapter of life. I have decided to not fight the gray although more for reasons involving laziness and control issues than for principle. As a Geriatric Care Manager I feel fortunate that I spend my time daily with men and women over 70. I see so many embracing their age and working around any of the physical and psychological obstacles. While I have been thinking about what that means for my own attitude I have compiled a list of reasons getting older can be liberating.
1. Life is no longer so black and white- I am happy living in the gray when situations arise. I find it easier to try to compromise, try to understand the other side of things more. Somewhere down the line I have dealt with something similar and it has worked out one way or another.
2. Going to bed early is not a punishment- I treasure my sleep. If I don't go to that swanky event so I can catch a few more winks, I'm OK with that.
3. Being considered a sage by default- I am asked questions about parenting, life philosophies, marriage, career and my gray hair from younger contemporaries. That gray hair really is conversation starter.
4. Trying new things- I'm not as concerned about failing. For me it is about the experience or as I like to tell my kids, the adventure
5.Talking to everyone- For some reason I feel compelled to talk to anyone around me. I ask many questions about life stories like I am collecting them for a future book I am writing.
6. Feeling connected- Growing up I felt I was learning bits and pieces about life in a silo and now I feel we are all interconnected. The fact that we all have some sort of neuroses is very comforting.
What is your reason?
1. Life is no longer so black and white- I am happy living in the gray when situations arise. I find it easier to try to compromise, try to understand the other side of things more. Somewhere down the line I have dealt with something similar and it has worked out one way or another.
2. Going to bed early is not a punishment- I treasure my sleep. If I don't go to that swanky event so I can catch a few more winks, I'm OK with that.
3. Being considered a sage by default- I am asked questions about parenting, life philosophies, marriage, career and my gray hair from younger contemporaries. That gray hair really is conversation starter.
4. Trying new things- I'm not as concerned about failing. For me it is about the experience or as I like to tell my kids, the adventure
5.Talking to everyone- For some reason I feel compelled to talk to anyone around me. I ask many questions about life stories like I am collecting them for a future book I am writing.
6. Feeling connected- Growing up I felt I was learning bits and pieces about life in a silo and now I feel we are all interconnected. The fact that we all have some sort of neuroses is very comforting.
What is your reason?