Five Perks that Make Getting Older a Blast

First off, getting older is different for everyone. I, however, am thoroughly enjoying myself as I age. And there are five perks that make getting older a blast for me.

At the top of my list is “I don’t care.” Truly. I no longer care what others think about me because I am perfectly comfortable in my own skin. Don’t like my hat? So what, you aren’t wearing it, I am.

At some point in life, being accepted fades as a priority. You come to realize the most important opinion is your own. Not everyone is going to like me or my hat. And that is okay. It’s normal. It is not my responsibility to please everyone. That realization lifts a massive weight off your shoulders.

Admittedly, I have taken classes and sat through many seminars to reach the point where I like myself and can recognize my strengths and weaknesses. My list of insecurities is getting smaller by the day. Gosh, that feels good to type.

Your Life Feels Cozy

Number two for me is “your life is cozy.” For the most part, your life feels comfortable. There is something so cozy about living with your best friend. Mike and I have been together for 32 years and are in rhythm. Yes, we both have our quirks but have accepted them after all these years. We participate in routines of our choosing.

Everyone knows where you like to sit on the couch, so your spot is always waiting for you. Likewise, the television is tuned to the show you want to watch. There is always plenty of Diet Coke in the fridge. I understand the statement, “All the comforts of home” now.

Typically, I like change over rote routines. However, when it comes to my house, there are certain comforts I don’t budge on. For example, we watch SNY every night during baseball season. I could easily watch my NY Mets 24 hours a day. My husband knows to claim another tv in the house if he’s looking to watch something other than my Metsies. I extend him the same courtesy for the NY Giants games during football season.

Getting Older is a Blast!

My number three perk is that “my fears are rational.” It no longer takes me two weeks to get up the nerve to cut my hair. Remember those days? What if I don’t like it? Or my boyfriend hates it? When younger, I’d pour through fashion magazines looking for the perfect cut. Then, show the picture to everyone for their opinion.

Today, I can choose on a whim to walk into a salon and get my head shaved if I want to. Suppose I don’t like it, no worries. It will grow back! (Well, hopefully, in my case, anyway.)

I view things more logically today, so much less drama is involved. I am confident enough to make my own choices. You won’t find me seeking outside validation anymore. I cringe when I think of all the time I spent getting other people’s opinions before making MY choices. Why? Ugh!

I am Still Learning Even While Getting Older

My number four perk, and one of my favorites, is “the ability to learn is abundant.” I have said this many times; the internet is a treasure trove of learning. Who knows how my life would have unfolded if it had been available during my childhood? I am addicted to it. It has taught me so much!

There are not enough hours in the day to learn the things the internet makes available to me. The “how to” opportunities are off the chart. It taught me to blog. It taught my son how to care for a swimming pool (thank goodness, I LOVE our pool).

Every single day I learn something new from the internet. Can you tell I love learning? Keeping my mind sharp by learning new things daily helps keep me young. While I cannot stop the physical aging process, I believe my quest for learning helps slow down some mental degradation. Plus, I love it!

Michelangelo said he was still learning at the age of 87. I wouldn’t mind having his legacy!

The number five perk I enjoy as part of getting older is “practicing thoughtful intentions.” A natural result of getting older is that you begin to slow down. It doesn’t mean you are not busy; you just tend to stop multi-tasking so many things at once. Some people have stopped working and have more time on their hands. You know what happens when you slow down?

The Last of my Five Perks

Your vision becomes clearer. You suddenly begin to notice things that have always been in your line of sight but you never saw them. It happened to me after my cancer treatments ended. I wrote a blog about it in 2019: https://www.outwittinglife.com/why-does-everything-look-different/. It really is quite enlightening. If you lean into it, it will change your life.

I like to do service. Helping others comes natural to me and I very much enjoy it. By engaging in different activities as I age, I have exposed myself to different people. That means new opportunities to intentionally support someone or something. Further, with my eyes wide-open now I clearly see ways I can make a difference. Having slowed down a bit, I also have the time.

My guess is that my perks will be very fluid as I age. Eventually, and God-willing, I hope to add being a grandparent to my perks. From what my friends and family have told me, there is nothing quite like it. Something I can definitely look forward to!

Can you point to any perks you are experiencing as you age? There are perks at every age group. Please share one of your perks in a comment below.

If I have said anything that resonates with you today, please let me know. Also, feel free to share this link with a friend who would enjoy this post. I am always looking to grow my audience.

P.S. I found this article from the Mayo Clinic while doing my research that while off-topic I thought you may enjoy. Could be a topic for another day! https://www.thorne.com/take-5-daily/article/seven-habits-that-slow-the-aging-process. Enjoy!