Growing old (Part 1 of 3 parts)

Numerous possibilities, few inevitabilities . . . that’s life. The sky’s the limit, but in that journey there are a few inescapable realities. Growing older is one of them. Aging not only happens, it happens fast . . .

. . . I remember a little sign I saw in a local gift shop:
When you get too old for pimples, you get right into wrinkles.
You know you’re getting older when . . .
. . . most of yo ur dreams are reruns,
. . . you sit down in a rocking chair and you can’t get it started,
. . . your mind makes commitments your body cannot keep,
. . . the little grey-haired lady you help across the street is your wife!
. . . everything hurts, and what doesn’t hurt doesn’t work,
. . . you sink your teeth into a juicy steak and they stay there,
. . . you watch a pretty girl go by and your pacemaker makes the garage door open.

—Charles Swindoll

When you get older, most things change. The first is your body. It doesn’t move very well. Perhaps you were a great basketball player in your youth. Now, when you take to the court you are sure you can still shoot the foul shots you were so good at. When you miss to the point of embarrassment, you blame your body for being out of shape. And then you hate yourself for drawing attention to your body that is more out of shape than you are willing to admit.

You know you are getting old when you get one or two calls a day . . . and they come from your wife and kids.

You know you are getting old when nobody cares to hear your stories about your past accomplishments. They hear what you’re saying, but they are not truly listening and you know it.

You know you are getting old when you mix up the names of your kids.

You know you are getting old when you forget to zip up your fly and people keep reminding you with those knowing smiles that say it all.

You know you are getting old when your medications increase in number and in milligrams.

And when you blast the TV and still it isn’t loud enough.

And when you start looking at the success of your grown up kids for personal satisfaction.

And when you know you have married the right woman whom you believe is the perfect companion and no matter how her body is changing, she still is the most beautiful woman in the world and you would have no other.

If you have problems about drugs, alcohol and behavior/attitude call my office at 820-6107 or 825-1771 or e-mail me at goldenvalues_school@yahoo.com.ph or write me at P.O. Box 2099 MCPO, Makati City. –Bob Garon, Manila Times