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The “O” Word

October 20, 2019 By Christine Field

This post may contain affiliate links.

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I am of the age when many of my doctors are retiring. That’s a weird thing in itself. But the ones replacing them are, well, really young.

I have shoes older than some of these professionals.

I had occasion to go to the ophthalmologist recently for a cornea infection. Having some general issues with vision in one eye, I said to the young man, “I figured it was just part of getting older.”

Without skipping a beat he responded, “I don’t think you’re quite ready for the ‘O’ word.”

getting older

 

First if all, I could have kissed him! I restrained myself from giving him a big old motherly kiss on the cheek.

But restrain myself I did and I had time to think about his remark on the way home.

 

Not ready for O

 

I’m definitely not ready to be old. I fight against it because it scares my a big.

Of course there are health concerns with aging, but there are things you can do to stay vibrant as long as you can and I am surely doing many of those things.

What concerns me more is the attitude of aging.

 

Attitude

 

I did not have the privilege of seeing my parents age because they died when I was a teenager.

But I did study my in-laws as they aged. I loved them dearly and they loved me.

It was painful to see them slow down.

As health conditions mounted, their world got smaller and smaller.

Where once they took cruises and vacationed in far-away places, age kept them close to home and their universe shrank.

They still attended church, but the rest of their weeks were taken up with doctor visits and just trying to maintain everyday life.

Perhaps some world-shrinkage is inevitable with age, but I still yearn to visit far off places and chase an adventure or two. Lord willing, my health will continue to allow it.

 

Interests

 

I will not live long enough to pursue everything I am interested in!

While my work consumes most of my time, I have a list an arm’s length of interests: writing, music, basket weaving, jewelry making, reading, movies, concerts, lectures, exhibits, classes. If I didn’t work, I’m sure each day would be filled with activity!

How can you live in this fascinating world and not have interests?

As I approach the “O” word, my challenge is pursuing the BEST interests from the flippant ones. What fun I will have choosing!

 

People

 

Maybe because my kids arrived when I was a bit older, but i’m in contact with many different ages of people.  My kid’s friends and the other attorneys in the courthouses I frequent are all quite young. Then I also have friends and relatives who are my age.

I think it’s something that will keep me young to have contact with a wide age range of people.

Why? Because they think differently and express themselves differently. I can learn from them just as much as they can learn from me!

It I only fraternized with people my own age, how would I learn anything new?

 

Technology

 

Love it or hate it, technology is here is to stay. You can rail against it or you can embrace it and allow it to enrich your life.

I’m not super techy but I can build websites and can navigate some pretty hairy stuff.

And then some days, I have to ask my twenty-something son to clarify something or other on my iPhone.

Technology is an adventure. Embrace it!

 

How about you? Are you ready for the “O” word? What steps are you taking to stay vibrant and alive as long as you can?

Filed Under: Healthy aging, Inspiration Tagged With: aging, getting older

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anne Fraser

    October 22, 2019 at 6:00 am

    I like some of the advantages that the O word brings like having grandchildren and getting free travel on the buses. However I still have some of the same interests I had fifty years ago like learning new languages and I love doing it with apps like duo lingo. I just think old age is different from what it was when my parents and grandparents were old.

  2. Christie Hawkes

    October 22, 2019 at 6:59 am

    I can relate to this post, Christine, on so many levels. First of all, I am not ready for the “O” word yet. I hope I am just getting started with my adventures–though nothing is promised to any of us. I have, however, had a doctor tell me more than once, “at this age” or at “a certain age” this happens. Ugh! On the other hand, my 81-year-old mother is slowing down fast. She’s always lived a more sedentary life (or at least since I’ve known her–she actually homesteaded in Fairbanks before I was born), but now she uses a walker and sleeps a lot more. The other day, she slept through her alarm and was sound asleep when I came to pick her up. It took my breath away to see her looking so tiny and frail in her bed. I’m getting teary thinking about it. My MIL is 92 and also beginning to slow. My husband and I are having to adjust quickly to this phase of life where we care for our parents.

  3. Donna Connolly

    October 22, 2019 at 8:51 pm

    Hi, Christine – I can completely relate to this post! Like you, many of my doctors and other professionals are twelve. I swear it — twelve! Atleast thay certainly look that way! 😀 I also love it when someone refuses to put me in the “O” category. Today, I popped into one of our local shops. Tuesday is their “Seniors’ Day” offering 15% off for those who are 55 and older. The cashier said, “too bad you don’t quality for our special.” Qualify? I qualified many years ago. I definitely wanted to kiss her…but I also took my 15%! #MLSTL

  4. Theresa Muth

    October 22, 2019 at 10:34 pm

    Yes, I agree! I am not ready for the “O” word either! Although I do find myself heading that way-especially physically. But I try to keep a young spirt and keep my mind open to new things which I believe helps keep you young:) And I, like you, also think I have shoes in my closet older than my doctor! It’s startling sometimes! Thanks for a great post #MSTL

  5. Debbie Harris

    October 23, 2019 at 1:39 am

    Christine, this was an interesting look at ageing. I really think it is attitude that keeps us young but once the body starts to deteriorate it becomes quite hard. Shared for #mlstl

  6. Leanne | www.crestingthehill.com.au

    October 23, 2019 at 1:53 am

    It’s a tricky one isn’t it? I don’t enjoy the way things decline as we get older and our bodies start to fail us. We can certainly keep our minds active and do our best to keep healthy and fit, but inevitably we’ll reach a time in our 80’s or 90’s where no matter how hard we work at it, age will win and we’ll slow down and have to make changes. I hope to live a long and “well” life, but there’s no guarantees, so I’m making the most of the time I have now and will keep doing so until age or disease finally catches me! Then it’ll be about choosing my attitude and enjoying what’s left, rather than resenting what’s gone.
    Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂

  7. Erica/Erika

    October 23, 2019 at 7:45 pm

    Nice to meet you Christine from #MLSTL 🙂 This is the first time I have heard this phrase “The “O” word.” Funny and possibly not so humorous when it hits close to home. 🙂 You made me smile on the “motherly kiss.”

    You bring up great points on Attitude and Interests. Some “elderly” people I know have a better attitude than some thirty year olds.

    Staying interested in everyone and everything and continually learning new things helps me stay young.

    A great post Christine. #MLSTL and shared SM:) Erica

  8. Sylvia | Grace for a Gypsy

    October 23, 2019 at 11:54 pm

    Dont think I am ready for it either, but sometimes my body disagrees! Great way to look at it.

  9. Candi Randolph

    October 25, 2019 at 5:25 am

    Hi Christine, I think our attitude makes such a difference in how we age, but so does our lifestyle choices. As I get older ( but not ‘O’), staying fit and strong has never been more important. I’ve watched my parents age and become so frail, and although some of that process is inevitable, I’m determined to minimize that for myself. #MLSTL

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Hi, I’m Christine

Have you been a wholehearted mother, but time, toddlers and teenagers have moved on? If you are wondering what comes next for you, you’ll feel right at home here.

Or, are you a mom for whom family life has been non-Pinworthy and parenting has been downright painful? I hear ya. There are many of us around.

Are you looking for a life full of exploration and adventure after the nest empties, but maybe you have no idea how to go about doing that? Stick around! We’ll explore adventures together to help you gain more clarity for your own path.

After a couple decades of writing books and articles about parenting, homeschooling and adoption, speaking to homeschoolers and other parent groups, and reaching out to the mom in the trenches who was trying to make the best of it - my kids grew up. Some grew up and grew away. I was determined to find a way out of the pain, emptiness and lack of direction.

For many of us, the journey starts with something we moms are not accustomed to. After years of caring for and serving others, sometimes we forget the beauty and wonder of US. We need to spend some time getting to know the parts of ourselves that have lain dormant, and take the time to explore interests and passions that we set aside.

I’d like to invite you to get the “What’s Next for Mom” workbook and jump into this growing tribe of Moms who are emptying the nest and filling the life! Let’s reignite your Mojo after Mothering!
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About Christine

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At Real Mom Life, my passion is to provide resources and reassurances for moms facing the surprising challenges of family life. In my writing and speaking, I explore solutions to unexpected issues in adoption, homeschooling, special needs, and more while encouraging moms to extract the maximum joy out of each day. Read More…

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