The more i get older, the more i take it as a gift (dixit my funny 95 years old american friend)

Every now and then, my old friend Buster sents me funny notes or mails that make me laugh or that take me into deep reflexion. I am amazed to see how, such an old man can laugh at himself. No wonder he is still alive after having such a hard life. I believe that it is his sense of derision that helped him all his live long. All of what he sent me for the past 17 years really helped me to relativize things and to find positivenesswhere it was not always obvious.
He became a real ray of sunshine in my live and i thank him so much for being such a wonderful friend
So here is what he sent me.

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.

Author unknown

You need to be a member of MyEnglishClub to add comments!

Join MyEnglishClub

Comments

Forget-me-Not May 1, 2011 11:13

Thanks for reading and commenting this blog dear Valentine. Let's hope that the one who read it will see "the old age" in a more optimistic way :))
Valentine May 1, 2011 9:11

Hi dear Manuela!!! You was right, his letter in the funny style makes us think and look at old age differently! But to regret, many of us begin to appreciate "the ordinary miracles" when get older! Thanks a looooooooot for sharing :) I liked it!
Forget-me-Not May 1, 2011 8:12

Hello Rose,

Whaouuu, i will let my friend Buster known what you wrote down here. He will be happy to know that, his funny mails and notes sometimes help people to see things differently. Thanks for passing by :))
Forget-me-Not May 1, 2011 7:49

Hello Anele,

Thanks for your very nice comment. In fact when you really think about, there must be some advantages of being old :))

That's great Anele, i like your positiveness, Buster would be happy to know that his letter gave you 'something to look forward to when I get there.' In fact, i believe he could be a great 'life teacher' for so many of us.
Forget-me-Not May 1, 2011 7:42

@ Martin

I am glag you, as a very young person, liked this post. You seem to be full of good sense Martin, not only in your answer here but in so many others you wrote here and there. It's great !
Forget-me-Not May 1, 2011 7:39

Hahahah, in fact Expector, you are not really old, i would even say that, nowadays as life expectancy is much higher, someone who is in his/her sixties is still not old ! Isn't in China that so many people live up to 100 years ? So you still have a loooooooooong way to go :))

Thanks for your comment doc.
Expector Smith April 30, 2011 14:17

Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed reading the letter. I can somewhat understand it - I've got some grey hair on the temples and have gone through some things, even though I'm not really old (only in my late 40s). What really matters is our attitude towards life - you can be happy or sad.

This reply was deleted.