I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.


Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ..... I will.


I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.



I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.


Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.


I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.

So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.


As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).

Amen Ditter. When I turned 70, I decided that I was old enough to do what I liked, tell a few people off, shake my fist at crazy drivers and not feel bad, and I do wear purple, red or any other color I choose.

I like it, Ditter!

Were you reading my mind?

Some of that is so very true - we should all appreciate every day we have...I'm trying to.

Ok I am 38 and well I love this I decided when I was 30 to stop worrying about what others thought of me and take care of myself. I give myself permission to be me. Thank you for this I will keep it bookmarked!!! Ditter you are like another mom to me with all your words of wisdom and funny jokes keeps me feeling the pain!!!!

Amen girlfriend!
today, i showed up at the grandsons soccer game, with a warm raggedy old quilt, my DD looked at me like i was from the moon.. "MOM, that blanket is disgusting,it is rupped, and has dog hairs on it! i will buy you a new one for Christmas"
ROFL! i told her i was to old to worry about what i looked like wrapped up in a old, well loved quilt" I also told her to wise up and not waste years on worry about such silly stuff.
Then i had a family baby shower..to attend. at 12 noon, "the outlaws" wanted to turn on the tv at the hall,to watch the U of M game..they voted me to be the one to turn it on..LOL! :shock:
your so right, it is so freeing to be old and not really give a hoot anymore. i wore my swim suit in texas at the community pool, my son said it looked nice on me.. :roll:
but i know i am a chubby redhead,that has seen better days! but gosh it was nice to hear him say such loving words!

i think i will copy and paste your words..and print it up, and live by it! Blessing my quilty friend..who always has a laugh for us!

I couldn't have said it any better. You go girl I am with you all the way. I like the freedom that comes with being older.

This is great. I turn 65 soon and this is the way I live too. For many years I wasn't allowed to be myself. I had to be what someone else thought I should be and do what they thought I should do. Well, not anymore. Now they just tell me I"m crazy. I will continue to be who I am and believe me I am not crazy. Yea Ditter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love that ditter. I have mellowed as I got older. I laugh more. My DGD says you can always tell a grandma. Their face has "cracks" when the smile. I love my cracks. Most of them are smile lines.

VERY WELL SAID :!: :!: :!:

What wonderful words! When I turned 66 last week, I suddenly realized that I was closer to 70 than I was to 60 ... but I love being this age. There is such freedom with being 66. If I can just keep everything up and running, I'll have it made! Thanks so much for the laughs. I can't tell you how many times I have copied and pasted your stories in an email to my girlfriends (ages 50 to 78) so everyone can enjoy! Blessings, sweet quilty friend.

Oh Ditter! You think our town will be safe when you and I get together since we think alike?! :? :!:

Love it!

Ditter you are one of a kind. Bless you.

Amen I am just starting the road but some liberation has already taken place.

:D I love this & also have started to worry less about the small stuff & just try to be positive and find joy in all I do. :D There is nearly always something that makes me smile. Ditter you especially & I think of you & your comical postings throughout each day. :thumbup: I am so grateful for all of you! :wink:

I went to the Dr. last Wed, to do all my blood work for the year. I got the call Friday with the results. The Dr. said I have the blood work of a 25 yr. old, whatever I do, keep doing it. I told him if I could get a complete body lift to go with the 25 yr old report, then I would be really in good shape. LOL LOL He told me to keep wishing. I turned 68 in Aug. and I try to do everyday what I want to. Love it......

This is what we call having paid our dues and we can enjoy it all! I have read this before and each time I read it, I sit back and think "By George, she's right." I always tell everyone, I can do anything I want to, I've paid my dues." And I have.

Edie

Ditter - you are a SPECIAL soul. You have learned life's lesson and are much richer for that. I envy the place that you are and would truely like to discard life's hangups that have been on my shouldners forever. Bless you, your wisdom and all of your "funnies" that you share with all of us - you brighten our days with your input.

Ditter............Truer words have never been spoken!!!!! For a moment.....I almost thought I had written "Your Words" I never thought I would ever reach this point in my life...BUT fact is....... I love this stage of my life...more so than any other time. As you said "It's FREEING"!!!!!!!

I have a whole lot less money these days, a bed ridden hubby, live a life of solitude......BUT I'm at peace for the first time in my life. And to add to the beauty of this stage in life......I found this GROUP of wonderful people of all ages.... who are sewww willing to give and share.

THANK YOU ALL.........for making this a WONDERFUL place to visit throughout the crazinees of daily life.

ANGEL BLESSINGS...... Anna Adelia

I feel exactly - exactly the way you do! Edie

I agree with you I don't make my bed unless someone is comming over and will see it. Eat what I want take a nap when I chose to but would give it all up to have my DH back. Getting old has its good points and some bad points the only thing that stops me from staying in my pj all day when my fybromyalgis flares up or sjogrens desides to make my joints hirt like carzy is my dog have to take her out

Very well said. I just turned 76 can't believe it. But I am happy I can wear a hat and not worry about my hair. I would rather be warm that look good. I can also wear comfortable shoes and no one cares.
I also believe you get kinder and more patient as you age, and treasure the love and companionship of friends and family'
Another way to look at getting older is. I "It is better than the alternative"
Oh And keep your sense of humor!!

Well said, it is really sad that so may people are judgemental. It took me, to find the best husband in the world to figure this out. Thanks, for the great words.

Here! Here! Always enjoy your words of widsom!

Ditter, I look forward to your daily words of wisdom or humor!

Oh Ditter43 - I don't think anyone could have said it better.

I decided a while back to adopt that philosophy. Who cares if the floor isn't mopped? And if they do, I can show them where it is. I have friends and family to love, so I don't have time to worry about the little stuff any more. there are bigger fish to fry

You are so right.
If we could all give up our worring thoughts. Love it.

Here in my late sixties - looking back over the years, trials (few) but triumphs (many) Only regret is that I did not have more than one child.
Can't believe I will be 69 at the start of 2011. I don't know how I'm supposed to feel being a senior! Love retirement - and am blessed to have my husband retired also. We get in each others way! That's just a comment not a complaint.

I don't know - I'm having a hard time getting older. I hate my face sagging, hair getting grey, knees creaking and putting on the pounds. I'm MUCH more critical of myself than I was 10 years ago! How DO you get to the point of accepting this???

SO very true! I've just turned 50 and have been realizing over the past couple of years how much more enjoyable life is when I feel free to be myself and not be concerned with what other people think of me. If they don't like me the way I am then I sure don't need them around...lol.

Ditter, I love reading your posts. I love your sense of humour but also just the plain, simple "advice" we can all learn to live by as well. Keep it up! :)

Ditter, how true that is. I turned 63 two weeks ago and I am enjoying every day. Okay, some days are pretty painful, the knees and back aren't what they used to be, but, I have so much freedom to do what I want to do now, children have left home, I am retired and hubby pretty much looks after himself, so I no longer have to march to the sound of the ticking clock, HURRAH.

quiltmom, Don't know how old you are, but, right at first those sags and pounds seem to matter a lot. After a few more years, more sags and more pounds, you just figure ,"what the heck! LOL I fought the weight thing all my life it seemed, always thought I had to look extra nice. By the time I hit 50, I was just plain tired of watching my diet while everyone else enjoyed food. I finally just stopped fretting about it. I am who I am, and you know, my family and friends think I am pretty special. I tell my kids I earned every gray hair raising them, and every wrinkle because of all the smiles I had because of the grandchildren!!LOL

It's not like you have a choice...we are all getting older at the same rate.I used to fret so much about my weight. There are teenagers who look worse then I do! I hated my wrinkled body....so I eat a little more to plump out the wrinkles! I've come to realize beauty really is only skin deep.
Haven't you noticed that after you get to know someone, their personality is what you remember most.
We live in a world that is too fixated by our outer appearance. Once you learn to like and accept yourself for who you are,your life becomes a lot more peaceful. :D

After having a heart attack at 52 you learn to appreciate a lot of things and growing older is the first one. As I tell people grow old or die young only two choices I know. I am growing old and loving every min. No gray hair only because my daughter is a hairdresser. LOL

I agree Ditter!

What I get a chuckle is when you meet someone from the past and they say you haven't changed! Hello my hair is gray, a few pounds around the middle, and I wear bifocals!

I just love your humor and that you keep on going event ho your having pain all the time. I can relate as I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and osteoarthritis. Bone spurs all over but I am hanging in there and still going here and there. Got to keep moving!