68 And Loving It

Yesterday was my birthday.  I'm 68 and loving it.  When I was a kid, I believed when I got to be 68 I thought my life would be over.  The family and friends I grew up with seemed old, tired, in poor health and just not loving life. 

Being poor required 68 year olds to keep working in jobs their body was not designed to do.  My grandparents didn't have pensions or Social Security.  They didn't have the medicines or the cures they have today.  Even if they did, they couldn't afford it.  Their friends were in the same boat so they didn't love life either.

Basically their life consisted of work, eat, sleep and taking a shit (which sometimes was the highlight of their day).  They did enjoy their grandkids that were able to put a smile on their face when they visited.

For some seniors today nothing has changed.  However, for many, like me, life at 68 is great and appreciated.  These are my reasons for loving life in my senior years. 

• My stress level is ninety percent less since I retired.  I have much more control of my life.  I can wake up when I want, sleep when I want, work at the things I love doing when I want, say things I truly mean, see the friends and family I want to see, go to Vegas and not be concerned bad things might be happening at work, get drunk when I want, call bullshit on people that make shit up, never have to do things or buy things just to look good to others, not get angry, frustrated or start a fight when things don't go my way or when someone intimates I'm not good enough and best of all, have all morning to take a good crap when the urge calls for it.
• I feel safe.  Medicare and my supplemental pays for all my doctor and hospital bills.  I get great care and don't have to worry I could lose everything do to an illness or injury.  I have a pension, Social Security and some savings.  I will always have food to eat, air to breath and shelter.  I don't have to worry about making ends meet.  I drive a car that's safe not flashy.  I have the time to eat right, work out and generally take care of my health.
• I have great friends and family.  Getting older gets you to appreciate everything more.  That's especially true of friends and family.  My son calls me all the time to check in.  I received Happy Birthday greetings from all my friends and many other people I haven't seen in many years (Facebook rocks).  I'm going to a Bar tonight because friends and even the bartenders want to wish me Happy Birthday.  My wife loves me and I feel her warmth deep into my heart.
• I feel great.  Not so much physically, but mentally.  I not only enjoy every day I wake up, I also have a positive outlook toward the future.  My CEO once said to me that life is a journey not a destination.  I didn't really understand him at that time, but I sure do now.  I'm just loving the journey.

I hope, when you get to 68 you'll appreciate all the things I stated above. Now that I think about it, why wait? 

Why not start today appreciating everything that 68 will feel like when you get there.