Does "life Begin at 60"

[meercat]

As the saying goes "life begins at 60"

Since turning 64 recently iv been wondering.. am i different since i hit 60...

Has your life changed since then?

Someone said the other day.."try to get to know yourself.. find out what you want to get out of life?"

Statistically iv got 29 years to find myself.. my dad's 93..

When we hit 60 where do we go..what do we do?

meercat xx

[quirkywords]

Hi everyone,

Don't wish too hard.. CMF funnily enough I want to go back to when my children needed me and loved being about me and actually thought I knew a thing or two.

Isn't it funny how we think the grass will be greener or was greener.

I hope your children are not like mine and still as adults blame me for their problems cause by my parenting.

Happy Days.

Quirky

[Moonstruck]

Oh Quirky....I didn't mean to spoil your upcoming birthday....no, you will be fine!

I felt a bit better after going to the ocean, swimming in the perfect sea, perfect weather conditions, perfect tides.....afterwards I lay for a while on a deck chair thing in the shady breeze overlooking larger waves breaking on the rocks with palm trees above...i thought "how many people get to do this..? And for as long as they like? next time I must remember to bring a book to read - I can intersperse reading with raising my eyes up to the palm trees...breathing deeply the clean sea air". I realised it was not worth suffering over and nothing I could do about it anyway.

the person who made the careless "explanation" as to why it was thought/assumed I could not take part in the activity (i.e. my age and looking older than the others) was in the early 40s. I wonder if she will ever know how much the throw-away lines cut deep into my already fragile confidence and made me want to retreat inside and never come out again? She will be in her 60s one day and may look even worse than me!!

don't worry Quirky.....90% of the time I forget how old I am and have a male friend who constantly tells me how gorgeous I am and how much he likes being seen with me because I am "such a sort". Perhaps his eyesight is failing badly. I tell him he is looking thru rose -coloured glasses!! ...have a good birthday...xo

[quirkywords]

Moon,

I am sure your friend has perfect eye sight and good taste.

I think it shows a lot about our society that the best thing you can say to someone is that they look younger or they dont look their age. Unlike you I think I look almost 60, and I want to embrace that. I have not been called a good sort for a long time.

I think because I was never very attractive ,a fact not a put down, that I have not worried how I age. My children wonder when I will grow up and act my age and I wear unfashionable but comfortable colourful clothes.

I am glad you liked the water and enjoyed the ocean.

Quirky

[Croix]

Dear Quirky, Moon and CMF~

I'm afraid I passed the 60 mark a very long time ago, however being older does have some pretty serious compensations.

I'm in the IT area and 18 months ago had a younger person put in my section to learn the ropes. I was asked to teach him. Well it has been an absolute ongoing pleasure, there is great satisfaction on passing on knowledge and then seeing it correctly and imaginatively employed.

To bequeath knowledge and technique might seem a small thing, it is not, it rounds up many past experiences and successes and gives one the knowledge it is going to be of further use in a new generation. Quite surprising really.

Maybe that is one reason I suggested the Moon Bowling Academy for Young Ladies:)

And now the obligatory O.W. quote for Moon:

Thirty-five is a very attractive age. ... society is full of women of
the very highest birth who have, of their own free choice, remained
thirty-five for years.

Croix

[Moonstruck]

Croix, I know it well.

Inside, I indeed have "remained 35 for years" and was happily doing so until the other person's remark confronted me with the truth...or rather.."her" truth.

One day perhaps someone will say about me " She seems to be living almost entirely for pleasure...now..." hehheheh

[Croix]

Actually Moon I was wondering what someone half my age was doing in a 60+ thread:)

-C

[quirkywords]

Croix,

I like your description of imparting knowledge to a younger person. It is so refreshing to hear after all the stories you hear of people over 60 being disrepcted.

I remember when everyone's mum was 21 but not my mum who was always honest about her age!! A friend of mine once said to her mum- if you are 21 you must have had me when you were 9!!!

Once women did not have birthday parties celebrating 40, 50 60 etc but now they do. I am going to embrace 60 or maybe do what a friend did , say I am 70 and then people will say how young I look!!

For Moon and everyone,

"you don't stop laughing

because you grow old

you grow old because

you stop laughing"

Michael Prichard

Keep Laughing

Quirky

[Croix]

Dear Quirky and all~

Thank you for that, I admit to being lucky to have that opportunity. Actually this Forum is another place where experiences garnered in life can be offered and met with respect and appreciation. To feel of use is a great thing.

(You are right about the laughing too)

Croix

[quirkywords]

Hello everyone

I was wondering does anyone think wisdom come with age?

How old before wisdom kicks in?

Or do you get knowledge and experience but not wisdom as you age?

I find as I get older I am more indecisive, worry more and still make silly mistakes.

I was a serious child and now my children say mum, when will you grow up?

I like my creative inner child but I would like to be like a wise old owl? Any thoughts?

Quirky

[PamelaR]

Hi all

I'm over the 60 mark and retired in the middle of last year.

Does wisdom come with age? That's a good question quirkywords. My sense is that it is people's view that with all the knowledge and experience an 'old' person has, then of course 'they must be wise'. I think that puts a lot of pressure on us, especially when you start to forget things or things don't come as quickly as you'd like. So IMO, the questions is more about the younger ones having an expectation that the oldies are wise. Otherwise what is the point in life.

Having said all that my view on ageing is - I think like a 20/30/40 year old, I dress like I want to dress, I laugh outrageously and always apologising 'cos by laugh's so loud. But hell, I love to laugh. It keeps me feeling young.

My friends age, ranges from mid 30s to mid 80s. I love to mix with them all. It keeps me happy.

The downside of ageing is my body. The noises my joints make and how they can get painful at times is annoying. However, all these issues I can relate to the life I've lead - cycling, swimming, walking. Overused joints - so I can't complain. I have enjoyed these outdoor activities. They've kept me sane and reasonably health (apart from the overuse).

I agree with White Rose, I think life begins when you're born (or even before that - if you believe in that type of thing). I try not to regret any of my life, even the things that I'm not especially proud of. From my viewpoint I'd invalidate myself if i did. That would lead 'me' to a very low place. Life happens, experiences can be good, bad, horrible, nasty, suffering, wonderful and marvellous. Most of my life I have focussed on the good, wonderful and marvellous. It doesn't mean the bad, horrible, nasty and suffering hasn't happened and isn't awful, it's just I choose to focus on ther other, it puts me in a much better place emotionally.