YOUNG OLD VS OLD OLD, THE JOY OF AGING

Young Old: Spry, active, ready to show how young.

My Grandpa showed off his new knee by doing one legged step ups on a low rock wall, his knee at a right angle, then up.

He invited me to give it a try. I was in my forties.

It was harder for me than him.

Old Old?

Don’t do step ups on a rock wall with a new knee.

But there’s more:

There’s  a difference between slowing down, and slowing way down.

Slowing down for young olds means counting your steps and setting a standard of fitness.

Slowing way down? Everything is a struggle.

Old Old is a struggle and too many have raised the surrender flag.

Three minutes of a Texas Two-Step are more than enough.

 

One of my sources says it’s never too late to feel younger.

They are millennials, but they are right.

I got a new bike, a bike bike and not an electric bike, to show my Young Old condition.

During my first hill ride, also known as going around the block, I stood up on the pedals.

At least that was the idea.

Aaaand, I sat back down. My stand up needs work, which I didn’t know before I got the bike.

My joy of aging was based on failure? What else is new.

It got me thinking about other things I used to do with ease.

A seven minute mile on the run? An easy trot.

Repping 225 on the bench? A regular thing in my fifties and early sixties.

Dropping weight when clothes got tight? Give me a week and ten pounds are gone.

 

The Joy Part Of Young Old

If you make the effort associated with being Young Old, these are the comments of the mourners at your wake:

“He sure looked good.”

“Just last week he was so full of life.”

“He still looks like he could jump up and rattle off 10,000 steps.”

These are a few elements associated with drawing compliments in the casket.

I’m not a doctor, but I was a real Army Medic, so take this with caution.

Ease up on the alcohol.

Every bottle of beer isn’t a chugging contest.

Every six pack doesn’t need draining.

Is one margarita enough, or too much?

All I’m suggesting is that every party, event, or alone time in the garage, is not a race to blacking out.

Do this when you wake up with a crushing hangover so bad you think you feel how crazy people must feel: disoriented, confused, you know the story.

Can you remember what you had for dinner?

The last thing you watched on TV?

What time you went to bed?

If you ace this cognitive test, party on?

Nope.

Alcohol, and again I’m no expert, disrupts your healing beauty sleep, makes you wake up too many time to pee, and ravages your skin.

What do you think when you see a red faced man with slack skin and trouble staying on topic?

When you hear of people making poor decisions with their loved ones?

What’s it like to mingle amongst people your age, but you look ten years older than everyone?

I talked to my sources (kids) and said I might have an allergy to alcohol.

Kid: There’s another word that starts with an A.

Whatever could it be?

I was watching the four year old one day and she said her juice box was a beer.

Maybe she’s modeling old Granddad?

My thought? I’m changing things.

This is the same kid whose birth forced me to get my gimpy hip replaced on a promise to mom.

“You said you’d get your hip fixed so you won’t fall and drop the baby.”

So that’s what I did.

The Young Old listens to good advice.

The Old Old tune it out.

 

Things That Happen On The Way To Old Old

Stick around long enough and you’re the same age as historical figures accused of evil.

These are the men on trial for their actions during WWII.

They died for their belief that following orders absolved of any wrong doing.

Keep them in mind when you cheer for a new order that goes above due process.

These guys swung on the gallows, which was a different ending than being lined up next to a trench and mowed down with machine guns like they did for so many in their occupied lands.

Eventually, despicable behavior needs an answer.

Why does it take so long to turn the tide for an obvious wrong?

Fairness.

What is this fairness?

It’s the idea of what is good for one is good for all.

Think of the Golden Rule of, “Do onto other as would have them do unto you.”

The missing link today is enabling and celebrating those who want it their way no matter what, like they live in a Burger King world.

Buddy, you don’t rule.

Old Old are tired and worn out and don’t give a shit with their, “Just leave me alone.”

They’re not wrong, but they’re burdening the Young Old with their neglected duty.

Where do you land on the scale of aging?

You are not invisible.

 

 

Sometimes you might feel that way.

 

PS: The world offers an array of bad people doing bad things.

PSS: Don’t do that. Take your wins and count your blessings and help others overcome their losses the way you have.

If you are burdened by haunting losses, seek counseling.