Thoughts on Aging

I woke up this morning with some thoughts on ageing. I had to look up the spelling of ageing before I started. Apparently it can be spelled with the e or not. So that becomes my first thought, i.e. what things came easily or automatically for the last 40-50 years begin to require some thinking about them sometime after the 50's. It's not noticeable at first, but it is insidious and unrelenting. It may start with menopause for women, may be identified as depression initially, (and may contribute to depression) shows up intermittently and at the worst times. At first one is in denial - it can't be age, I'm only 50. It must be stress. I need hormones and anti anxiety medication and maybe an antidepressant, something to help with the insomnia, meds for ever increasing achy feelings and joint pain, and so the long voyage toward the end of life begins to feel closer and closer despite all efforts to stay the execution. That journey can be anywhere from a few years to about 30. There is no doubt that it happens to all except those who die early by some twist of fate or disease, but there are conflicting opinions about almost everything else related to aging and ideas about how to cope both physically and emotionally. There is no fighting it, only delay of symptoms (sometimes). It can be the best years of a person's life or the worst. Some of this can be affected by attitude, health, activities, friends, economic circumstances, marital situation, family support, educational level, hobbies and interests. Some things just keep moving along despite all efforts to delay the process.

So here I am 64, unemployed mostly because I couldn't meet the requirements of my job. I feel that I still have much to offer, but I haven't found a slot that fits - yet. I should keep looking, but for now I have some commitments to attend to and then maybe I can find a slot for me. I think that aging is sad, but I feel better having written this. It seems to have clarified things for me. I wonder if this information (which is not new) would help anyone else. Maybe, maybe not. Each of us has to find his or her own way to cope and I'm still working on that. But most likely the process begins with thinking, identifying the problem, and planning an approach. (My old nursing process thing). Exercise such as anything from walking, swimming, dancing to games like the wii reportedly keep one feeling better, improves mood and attitude and can even contribute to a longer life. Motivation to get moving is another thing. It seems to help to have some company with those activities. Reading and using a computer and doing crossword puzzles and sudoku can help keep the mind sharp (I hate contrived puzzles, but yet I will spend hours trying to figure out why a lamp or a fan doesn't seem to work). I'm not sure if writing helps one's acuity, but I hope so because that seems to be my main intellectual activity after reading. Long talks with my daughter are also intellectually stimulating to me.  Reading the papers she writes for her classes also helps. She really challenges my brain. Am I doing enough. Time will tell I guess. Motivation or the absence of it seems to be a big problem for me.

10/24/2013

Still here, still ageing, coping fairly well.  But those long stimulating talks with
my daughter have been absent for more than a year.  She's busy with a new
job, and teenagers who can really swallow up all a mother's free time and she
has 3 of them.  May God watch over her.