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The Simple-Minded Joys of Old Age
Growing old, I find it's getting easier to be happy.
When I was younger I was driven by ambitions, and no accomplishment was enough for long.
Now my ambitions are mostly about simple moments in my day.
I do simple exercises standing in front of a bookcase for support, and while squatting or turning I may notice the title of a book I read and wanted to keep. I feel time spent reading was one of the best investments of my life. Sharing exercise with them makes me glad.
Yesterday I bought a big rutabaga turnip. In my family only my grandmother and I liked rutabaga, and I only know of it because she cooked it for me when she realized I liked it. She died fifty years ago, but tonight I'll have slices of sauteed rutabaga with paprika and happy memories of her soft voice.
I feel lucky to have lived long enough to become simple-minded.
How about you?
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Joy: sleeping 9 hours straight.
Makes everything manageable.
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7 ReactionsMy sleep pattern is a little different. While I was working I spent most in bed sleeping and very little time waking up to pee, if any. Then I "retired" found another job (basically to keep me busy). Eventually retired and my sleep pattern changed. I "wake up" after being in bed after two hours, pee, maybe let the dog out--she pees also. Then I sleep another two hours, pee time, then sleep three to four hours; then I get up, eat breakfast (takes an hour while reading anything--books, comic books, newspaper, various magazines (Sc-Am, Nat Geo, History, some newsletters) and take a nap in the recliner for one to two hours. Now I am ready to start the day. My books are in three genres--Fantasy and Sc-Fi, mysteries, and history. I write a weekly opinion column on any topic I want.
Today, just for fun, I had my gray beard dyed green for St. Patrick's Day. I may not be Irish or Celtic but I love both Scotland and Ireland. I've decided that this coming October, I will have my beard dyed Hot Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I have tried Nail Polish and had fun with that as well. Long involved story. (Another time)
A day without a nap is a hard day and needs some fun in it.
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10 Reactions@rollingf
That should be an amazing green beard!
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1 Reaction@sueinmn
I'm still thinking.
For much of my life I was very complex-minded, and I still fall into it sometimes.
I need to remind myself to be simple-minded when I get too deep into complications.
The answer comes when I find the way to simplicity.
That's why I enjoy calling it "simple-minded."
(Yikes! It's getting complicated!)
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6 Reactions@edsutton ,
Yes it is and I am glad I had it done!
Jan
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1 ReactionI’ve always loved gardening but I enjoy it even more now that it finally feels okay to just putter around the garden. Some days I feel very energetic and productive. Some days I just putter about enjoying the sun and the breeze and hearing the birds sing and it’s okay just to be there. Relaxing. Just being alive. It’s enough to love being alive and to be grateful for that.
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11 ReactionsI have adopted the philosophy :
“Simple pleasures for a simple man”
It works for me, I’ve become a simple man and I love it!
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7 ReactionsThis conversation is more meaningful than you might think! I love the responses on how to find simple pleasures. I am 79 and just moved into a very active and “young inspiring” over 55 community in a southern state over a thousand miles from where I lived all my life. Neighbors of all ages are here because they want to be. I love meeting new people and am unafraid of exploring new opportunities. While I do enjoy pool aerobics to help with mobility, I also enjoy a book club, a couple of social clubs and lectures on all sorts of topics. Here’s to moving about as much as you can and working our brain, too!
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7 Reactions@larust8 Gardening give me a reason for tomorrow. Photo of tomatoes in large pots.
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5 ReactionsWell Put ... Thanks for sharing.