Living into old age is a privilege
@sprite1950 (30453)
Corsham, England
May 21, 2018 3:49am CST
Yesterday I got some sad news that an old friend of mine had died of cancer. He was in his sixties the same age as I am and I felt so sad that yet another one of my friends had not made it into old age ..although some of you will think that 60 onwards is old!
When I was young I didn't think about dying .. it was something that happened to other people and I never worried about it. As I have gone through life and seen so many people much younger than me pass on I realise what a privilege it is to reach old age. True it comes with health problems but with medicine improving every day many of our ailments can be controlled.
Even though I'm afraid of growing old I know I should be grateful as so many people do not get the opportunity and are taken far too young.
Growing old is a privilege and even if I died tomorrow I would be grateful that I have lived through the experiences, good and bad, which have made me the person I am today.
How do you feel about growing old?
15 people like this
13 responses
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 May 18
I am resisting growing old as much as I can. I can't stop my body from the physical aging process, but I can control my mind from growing old. Or at least my mental attitude! I still live my life and act as if I were still in my 20s. It helps to be young at heart!
But at the end of the day, I don't mind growing old, as long as I can do it gracefully. My fear of old age is not age itself, but of the physical condition my body will be in. I do not want to be dependent on others to take care of me just to keep me alive. I don't want to be a burden on anyone else.
2 people like this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
4 Jun 18
@moffittjc Thanks. I used to work in an old people's home and I couldn't believe how young some of the people were in there because they couldn't take care of themselves. I remember one guy had Parkinson's Disease and he was only around my age.
2 people like this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
2 Jun 18
Yes I don't want to be a burden on my children either. I would happily go into an old people's home rather than do that although hopefully I will remain healthy for as long as possible. There is a lot of dementia on my mother's side but none on my dad's side so hopefully I will take after him.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jun 18
@sprite1950 I hope you live a long and prosperous life and can stay independent for many, many more years before having to go into an old people's home!
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
21 May 18
I was afraid of getting old but then I realize it isnt so bad at all because with growing old you get wiser and you have the opportunity to share all your experiences to the younger generation. 
2 people like this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
22 May 18
@mlgen1037 Yes but he was ill and at least he's not suffering any more. I will miss him though.
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
22 May 18
@sprite1950 I am sorry about your friend, Snowdrop. I think he is too young to die too.
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@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
22 May 18
@sprite1950 I think he is happy wherever he is. Another angel watching over you.
1 person likes this
@minx267 (15527)
• Hartford, Connecticut
22 May 18
@sprite1950 wowzers. you are doing good. and so long as you have dogs.. you can never die.. that is my theory anyway!
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
22 May 18
@minx267 I have made provision for them should anything happen to me but they are 11 and 12 years old so I hope to see them end their days with me. I probably won't have any more after they're gone.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
22 May 18
In 13 years I will be 80 .. I hate even saying it! I love dogs and have two myself.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
21 May 18
I think it sucks @sprite1950 . I want the energy I had even in my 50's. Of course health issues have screwed that all up now. One thing I do think about though is with the way our world is heading, I don't know if I want to even see it in 10 years from now.
2 people like this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
23 May 18
@nanette64 It's a sobering thought.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
22 May 18
@sprite1950 Very true cause you never know when the clock is gonna quit ticking.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (55698)
• Portugal
21 May 18
I am so sorry for your friend, I have controversial feelings about getting old, at some point I think it is a privilege and want to see my children became adults and live a good life but I am also afraid of health issues that growing old bring.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
23 May 18
@nela13 I always think about it for days afterwards especially if I think they were too young to die.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (55698)
• Portugal
23 May 18
@sprite1950 It disturbs us, especially when we are close to them or their age are close to ours.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (55698)
• Portugal
22 May 18
@sprite1950 It is always a bad feeling when those we know and like pass away.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
2 Jun 18
@porwest Let's drink to that! A long and healthy life for both us and our loved ones 
1 person likes this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
26 May 18
@sprite1950 That's it for me too. Unless my quality of life lead me to having no life at all, I wouldn't see the point in being around just to suffer. I hope I don't have to think about it for a very, very long time.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
6 Jun 18
@sprite1950 I am definitely up for that. I'll bring the brandy. 
1 person likes this
@popciclecold (35103)
• United States
28 Jun 18
I feel like growing old is a privilege also. I too, have seen a lot of young people pass on early. I consider myself blessed.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
29 Jun 18
Quite a few of my friends that I was at school with are no longer here. Life can be very fleeting.
@popciclecold (35103)
• United States
11 Jun 18
I totally agree with you, yesterday, my husband told me about a young man that went to school with my oldest son, that he had passed away.
@popciclecold (35103)
• United States
11 Jun 18
@sprite1950 I always think about it, especially if they are younger than I am.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
12 Jun 18
@popciclecold Yes it makes you wonder how long your own life will be,
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
11 Jun 18
It makes me feel so sad when I think of them when they were alive and well.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
22 May 18
@id_peace When she's behaving! . She has a few issues but in the main she's a good girl.
. She has a few issues but in the main she's a good girl.1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
2 Jun 18
Thanks. Yes I want to stay healthy too. I would not like to live in constant pain.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
3 Jun 18
@aureliah It can be controlled with medication I suppose but I value my health and want to stay well for as long as possible.
1 person likes this
@saritflor (3914)
• Hungary
10 Jun 18
That is a thought I'm having since a very young age, since I've lot a dear person at... a very young age. It makes me feel sad to think about it, I think we must to do good to others and with animals as long as we are alive.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
11 Jun 18
Yes I hate to think of my loved ones dying so we should tell them we care about them often.
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@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
11 Jun 18
@saritflor Sorry I didn't mean to make you sad. I'm feeling better now as I have had time to come to terms with it.
@saritflor (3914)
• Hungary
11 Jun 18
@sprite1950 That's very truth, this thread made me sad this morning.
