Does anyone feel old and useless with age?

Thank you. Yes, you are so right -- I am blessed in so many ways.

Sometimes pain, frustration, and discouragement cause me to forget that fact, but I am soon reminded of it.

As for me being a nice guy...well, some might argue. But thank you for saying that!

Scott, I so enjoyed your post. Perhaps expressing gratitude for the life we have been given, regardless of the challenges, provides us a window to appreciate life. i.e. Grateful for being born in the US, having the parents I had, being a Mayo patient, etc. Trust me, I do have complaints, but I prefer to focus on "Good Stuff."

Thank you!

In terms of gratitude, I consider the alternatives. For example, I knew someone who saw the worst in every situation. "Things have to get better. They can't get any worse!" was a common phrase.

Actually, they could have gotten a lot worse.

As you point out, we live in a great country. Most people never have to worry about having shelter, or food, or physical security, or clean water, or... or...

When they forget that, or feel deprived because they don't have a Lexus or a 70" TV or whatever, they're laying the foundation for a life of unhappiness.

Hello, that'sounds very sad. Some of us have so much on our plates .I wish you luck as well.

Prayers sent. I am 64 also. I had a large growth surgically removed from my thigh a few years ago that seemed to develop from a bad dog bite I had over 10 years ago. It left a pretty big hole in my leg but it healed up but it has a huge scar and I feel it’s still healing and the muscle mass will take another 64 years to catch up. I do appreciate still having my leg however. I have back problems. I was in 2 accidents to do with my back and my hip. One when I was a child and one when my daughter was an infant. My biggest complaint is that I don’t feel appreciated. I always can find something to do. Being unappreciated hurts the most. I am married to a 76 year old man for over 40 years and who thinks I should still be able to act like I did when I was 20.

Sally12345, since I had this large growth removed from my leg a few years ago, the University hospital where I had it done asked me if I wanted to be a part of a Causal Study thru their Redcap Team where they will follow me for 6 years. (They are calling it a Sarcoma Cancer.) Upon them asking me it actually brought tears to my eyes because I didn’t think anyone cared. (Very few of my relatives or friends even reach out to me to ask me how I am doing since that surgery.) I notice the university hospital on their website has a Research area where one can sign up for that. That might be an idea for you too for any of your health issues. At least I feel appreciated there. Maybe you could be too.

My greatest source of feeling good about myself comes from Myself because I truly know more about myself -- my strengths and weaknesses. If I find an insight in Addition to what the essay said, for example, I feel good about it. If I find there was a weakness in the way an argument was made in an article because of logical error I feel good having discovered it myself -- of course it's a lot more fun to be able to discuss such things with a fellow human, which I lack but working toward it daily. At the minimum I try to do what's in my control to keep myself mentally and physically in shape. After all one cannot get from others what they can't, won't, or too incompetent to give, right! Certainly No fb friends for me if they don't even know me.

I read this stunning quote by Augusto Cury:
"A person doesn't die when his heart stops beating; he dies when the world tells him he is no longer of any value."

When my 5 children and 17 grandchildren rarely communicate with me, and I am an isolated caregiver 24/7, I begin to question my value. Self actualization is nearly impossible. Bucket list? Forget it.

Men always want us to stay the same , like when we were young. I was married at 16 married for 38 yrs. Never heard a thank you or I'm sorry. Nothing...these men don't appreciate us. Until it's too late. That is a topic I could go on about.....but we aren't 16 or 25 or 40..we have children and we age. And our health fails because we took such relentless care of others.

I sense we are on The Same Page. I find when I keep my head where my feet are, I do better. Not perfect, but better. When I Future Trip, I take myself to challenging places. Places that may not ever present themselves.