THE UPSIDES OF GOING DOWNHILL

I’m gonna smack the next person who tells me, “You’re only as old as you feel.” That is the single, stupidest thing I’ve heard in the last 20 years. If you knew how I really felt, you’d wonder how the hell I was still above ground!! AND…on the days when I DO feel young, folks look at me weird…

That said, I’ve discovered there are a few UPsides of aging:

1. You look younger from behind. So, I’ve started walking backwards.

2. You don’t fret about forgetting someone’s name because half the time you can’t recognize their face either.

3. You never run out of advice to give—and you don’t have to Google any of it.

4. You don’t have to worry how you look because no one is looking.

5. You realize that the reason your vision gets worse is so that you think you still look good.

6. A ‘thong’ is no longer a ‘thing.’ Just sayin’.

7. You don’t have to worry about ‘running your own race’ because no one else is that far behind!

8. You’re entitled to a ‘senior’ discount if your car ever gets towed. However, you’ll likely never use it because you won’t remember where you parked.

9. Store clerks won’t try to sell you spandex or stilettos anymore.

10. Losing some of your hearing is a blessing. You heard me: IT’S A BLESSING!

11. You have a long list of strong, young men at your fingertips. This is not because you’re a cougar but because someone has to get that dead squirrel off the roof.

12. If you start dancing in Costco people will just assume you have Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Laura Carstensen, director of the Stanford Center for Longevity has studied old folks for years. Recently she was a guest on Shankar Vendantam’s, “Hidden Brain” where she discussed her research about why elders seem to find more joy as they age. Listen in here. Her own backstory is compelling and worth checking out.

Meanwhile, please share this blog with someone you love. If you don’t love anyone, share it with someone older than you. There are alot of us around.

P. S. Oh, and and the very, best perk? Feeling free to say “NO” to things (instead of that people-pleasing “Yes”) fills you with unimaginable glee!!!