Category: aging

Devotional

by worrylessjourney, posted in aging, imagination

April 10 2025

Psalm 92 Verse 12-14

12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
    they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
    they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
    they will stay fresh and green,

I really am glad that there is hope for us in old age. Lately I have felt that I am rushing past it.

The truth is there are benefits to growing older. Unfortunately our culture idolizes youth. Some wonderful things are lost because of this focus.

It is really true that wisdom comes with age. Great respect is shown in the Bible for elders. Somehow, as we grow older our perspective widens and it’s easier to see the big picture. If we just let ourselves we can accomplish things in our older years that we would have been afraid to try when we were younger. We can’t really grow old until we stop learning, growing and creating. I don’t know about you, but I plant to stop when they scatter my ashes to the four winds. Until then. LOOK OUT1

Prayer : Thank you God for our days upon the earth. Grant us the wisdom to seek our new paths and enjoy new experiences until our days are done, and then bring us home in joy to your house. AMEN

Ever Changing

by worrylessjourney, posted in acceptance, aging, caring

I am so aware that every day is different. I frequently think about the song ” What a difference a day makes.” Life is ever changing and mine is no exception. After a difficult few weeks things are better and I am so glad. Living in this Independent Living Facility, which is wonderful has the downside of losing friends. I have lost ones who don’t life here but it is different with those I see every day.

It is hard but it is part of life and life is ever changing.

?What Seven Deadly Sins?

by worrylessjourney, posted in aging, answers, change

Here I am back again after a long time of not posting. I realized that I have spent little time in introspection and too much time doing things that don’t really matter. I have to take time to share my thoughts….and actually have thoughts. Living in Independent Living can be not living independently. It is a choice. So much is available here it is easy to get comfortable and not streatch my mind. Recently I have begun a book club that reads collections of short stories. I wasn’t sure this was going to be great but it is really wonderful. It is so much more fun to disect a short story with as group of very different people. It is a small group but has three liturature college professors. One from UT, 2 from Baylor and one from Rice. A little intimidating since evern though I have read and continue to read everything this is a unique group. The other members have varied backgrounds but all have amazing backgrounds. It makes for an interesting and fun discussion. The title of our current anthology is “The Seven Deadly Sins” a compilation of major authors whose storries have components that show one of the sins. We just read “anger.”

Enough about this. More nextime, peace, Suzanne

by worrylessjourney, posted in acceptance, aging, change, coping

I have settled in here Independent Living and have learned a lot about what someone needs to know about taking this step in their life. One thing I know for sure is that I wouldn’t want to be living alone in the home I left. There are so many opportunities here for finding new friends and enjoying the activities.

Change is difficult but we experience it throughout our entire lives. Making a change like this can be hard but I find it worth it.

I am working on a book about this step in our lives. I have no name for it yet but think of it as Transitional Grief. That will change as the word grief causes so many negative responses. This will be a challenge but a great way to explore my own experience with the aim of helping others.

Does anyone else remember?

by worrylessjourney, posted in aging, remembering

Lately I have been thinking about things that happened in my lifetime that those younger would not know. Most of them a trivial but interesting. Some not trivial.

Before 1955 income tax was due on the Ides of March (the 15th).

“Under God” was not in the pledge of allegiance until 1954 when President Eisenhower signed it into law.

I remember watching some of the McCarthy hearings since we lived outside of Washington, D.C. They were not broadcast nationally in total. Even as a teenager I couldn’t believe the stupidity involved.

I remember the Hungarian uprising since we had a Hungarian student in our school who was a refugee.

Everyone was upset when the Russians launched Sputnik and beat us to space.

We had a telephone that was a party line. That meant that there were other people using it too. Each household had a separate ring. Our number was 237j. How long ago was that?? I have no idea.

Who is “less than” ??

by worrylessjourney, posted in abuse, aggravations, aging, Discernment, prejudice

Writing yesterday I alluded to the fact that being in a residence for independent seniors brings to the front of our view that we are at risk to be ignored by everyone else. Now by saying that I don’t mean that our families just walk away and leave us. Mostly that is not the case. But the reality is that we are deemed “less than.” Less brains, less physical ability and less important. We are the ignored minority.

I love the poems by Ogden Nash and this idea brought to mind a poem that brings out this point very clearly.

Old Men
by Ogden Nash
 
People expect old men to die,
They do not really mourn old men.
Old men are different. People look
At them with eyes that wonder when…
People watch with unshocked eyes;
But the old men know when an old man dies.

This is so very true.. and yet the collection of wisdom, knowledge and ideas here is amazing. We are blessed with so many who have designed things now used by everyone, were professors in just about every field of endeavor. written books both fiction and non-fiction. I could go on and on. We are still alive, thinking, giving, sharing and loving.

In a more alert world we would be considered the “institutional memory” that is so important. It helps to keep us from making the same mistakes over and over.

We are here! We are useful! We are wise! Ignore us and you will be the ones who are “less than”

Back again

by worrylessjourney, posted in aging, communication, community

It’s been so long since I have written. I hope I haven’t lost complete connection with Word Press friends. I don’t know what has stopped me from writing. I have been too distracted. I hope that I can get back into my routine. A lot has happened around here and I am learning about being the transparent generation. For that reason alone I need to keep posting about how it feels to feels to be 82…a minority that most people don’t recognize.

More about that later. Just want to get back posting and sharing. Peace to everyone.

Old Wisdom

by worrylessjourney, posted in aging, poetry, wisdom

Ageing, disappearing

Vanishing, not noticed

Passed by

As we grow older

 these things happen

Frequently

But we remember

We learned

And we still remember

Life is a gift

Cherished, loved

Hated, experienced

Ups and downs

Bring wisdom

Joys and tears

Compassion Can be learned

As our lives

Connect with others

The journey can be

Long or short

Alone or with others

We have been there

Learned

And gained

 When you see us

White haired, frail

And bent

Don’t dismiss

The wisdom learned

On our journey

We’ll share if you sit

and Listen openly

To our wisdom

Who knows

It may

Soften your journey

And you may find

Obstacles

Moved out of the way

Not like “Waiting for God”

by worrylessjourney, posted in acceptance, aging, change, Live!

They used to say that nothing stays the same but death and taxes. I have decided that as right as this is something supersedes these and it is change. Change is always with us. It comes when planned and when unexpected but it always comes.

Since fall of 2020 my life has been the perfect example of change. With two moves, losing my husband and my home (had to sell when moving), living in a completely different state(one that acts as if it is its own country) and living in an Independent Living Retirement place, change has become normal. I just expect it and keep going.

Living with others who have retired and seeing mostly grey hair around me has been interesting, challenging, disturbing and comforting. There is sometimes the feeling of living in the British comedy “Waiting for God.” It can be hard to accept living where (supposedly) you know you will die. You have to develop a different mind set.

In some ways it it like living in a college dorm. As a community, there are rules that must protect us all somewhat like those in a HOA setting. For those who have been independent and masters of their own choices it can be frustrating.

Those are some of the negatives. It is wonderful, however, to have 3 restaurants on site and cook only if you want to. It is so good to have conversations with people who remember the things you do and understand your references to events and people of the past. (Some young people are so clueless it make me wonder what is being taught in school.) It’s a miracle to have my apartment cleaned once a week.

Soooo, although life has been challenging with lots of changes, it has also been interesting, stimulating, and life enhancing. There are so many things to do. We are connected to the University of Texas and can attend things there as we want. Events and activities are fun and improve minds and bodies. Life is good. You just have to reach out a grab it.