I found this today and thought it was beautiful, so I wanted to share it here with all of you. Even though my hair will never be gray, thanks to those little brown bottles, I still think everyone should live by this.
OLD AGE IS A GIFT
I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body - the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, but I don't agonize over those things for long.
I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avant- garde on my patio. I am entitled to overeat, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.
Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 am, and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love.. I will I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the bikini set. They, too, will get old!
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten, and I eventually remember the important things.
Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when a beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. I can say 'no', and mean it. I can say 'yes', and mean it
As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong
So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day
Today, I wish you a day of ordinary miracles.
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read more blogs!
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Sunshine79
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Jun 21 @ 10:08PM
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That was BEAUTIFUL! 
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NightOfOld
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Jun 21 @ 10:27PM
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You must have been thinking of me. 
I'm not really an old man. I just play one to fool people. 
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Ewe_Wish
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Jun 21 @ 10:33PM
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That was wonderful............thanks for sharing this with us.........old people lol
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NightOfOld
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Jun 21 @ 10:49PM
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Getting Old
I don't remember getting old, .
it should'nt happen yet.
I need to do some other things
that aren't decided yet.
Who said my joints should ache like this?
my eyesight's getting bad,
and when I hit the bedroom,
well, things are looking sad.
I'm fifty three, how can that be?
I'm really not that old.
my body doesn't understand
it won't do what it's told.
I tell it to run round the track
for seven laps or more.
I get to three, it answers me,
you're only getting four.
When I was in my prime you know.
I'd drink ten pints or more,
then rise the very next morning
and off to work I'd roar.
But now I have a glass of wine
and things start looking hazy
my body likes it best in bed
I never was that lazy.
At seventeen the big three O,
was what I used to fear
at twenty four I thought the door
to forty wasn't near.
At forty two the big five O
was looming at the double,
the big six O is next you know,
oh boy! Am I in trouble!
When god invites me for a chat
to find out where I'm going
I'll tell him, well, I don't want hell
there's no one there I'm knowing,
I'll go to heaven if that's OK.
and wait there with my hymn book,
till the missus gets herself up here
to teach the angels to cook.
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RevDocLove
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Jun 22 @ 8:09AM
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Very good!! And it's all true.. 
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casuallylooking
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Jun 22 @ 11:38AM
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At this point I am lucky enough to not have any grey hairs on my head. But everything else sure makes up for it... 
But I have found a person I do finally like deep within and that is a good exchange.
Besides being this age and these wrinkles allowed me to be Grandma, not a better thing to ever to blessed with than that and motherhood. They don't see my wrinkles, they only see me.
Also good poem, Chuck..
Thanks for sharing Tammy... kudos.. 
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casuallylooking
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Jun 22 @ 11:39AM
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Damn, Dana, I am sooo sorry. I just answered an email to Tammy and had it on my mind as I answered your blog.
I apologize..
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Cootiesprayer
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Jul 12 @ 7:16PM
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I will I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the bikini set. They, too, will get old!  yes they will dang it! oh thank you i needed this blog.
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Wordsofwit
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Jul 12 @ 7:42PM
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I consider myself to be pre-geriatric and read all these homilies about it. I find all of the rosy bullshit to be highly over rated personally.
If people want to rail at me, cool. But I don't give a rat's fuck what you think one way or another. There is nothing cool about being in decline, especially on a physical level. It is damned tough to deal with, though many pretend the decline does not exist...their choice.
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