Ever Wonder by Jacque – Rules for a Good Old Age

It’s time to use the money you saved up.  Use it and enjoy it.  Don’t just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. .
Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren. You’ve taken care of them for many years, and you’ve taught them what you could.  You gave them an education, food, shelter and support.  The responsibility is now theirs to earn their way.
Keep a healthy life with moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well and get your sleep.  It’s easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy.  Keep in touch with your doctor, get tested even when you’re feeling well.  

  Always buy the best, most beautiful items for your significant other.  The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner.  One day one of you will miss the other, and the money will not provide any comfort then.  Enjoy it together.
Don’t stress over the little things.   You’ve already overcome so much in your life.  You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present.   Don’t let the past drag you down or the future frighten you.
  Regardless of age, always keep love alive.   Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor, your surroundings, your country.   We are never old as long as we have intelligence and affection.
  Be proud, both inside and out.   Don’t stop going to your hair salon or barber.  Do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist.   Keep your perfumes and creams well stocked.   When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong on the inside.

Don’t lose sight of fashion trends for your age, but keep your own sense of style. There’s nothing sillier than an older person trying to wear the current fashion among youngsters.   You’ve developed your own sense of what looks good on you.
  Read newspapers, watch the news.   Go online and read what people are saying.  Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those social networks.   Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the people you know is important at any age.
  Respect the younger generation and their opinions.  They may not have the same viewpoints as ours, but they are the future and will take the world in their direction.  Give advice.
Never use the phrase:  “In my  time.”  Your time is now.   As long as you’re alive, you are part of this time.   You have been younger, but you are still you now, having fun and enjoying life.
Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly.   Life is too short to waste your days in the latter mode.   Spend your time with positive, cheerful people.
Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your  children or grandchildren (if you have a financial choice, that  is).  Sure, being surrounded by family sounds great, but we all need our privacy.   They need theirs and you need yours.  
Don’t abandon your hobbies.   If you don’t have any, make new ones.   You can travel, hike, cook, read, dance.  Find something you like and spend some real time having fun with it.
Even if you don’t feel like it, try to accept invitations.   Baptisms, graduations, birthdays,  weddings, conferences.   Try to go.   Get out of  the house, meet people you haven’t seen in a while, experience something new (or something old). Get out there.
Be a conversationalist.    Talk less and listen more.  Listen first and answer questions, but don’t go off into long stories unless asked to.  Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really need to.  Always find some good things to say as well. 
Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older.  Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of the cycle of life we’re all going through. 
If you’ve been offended by others, forgive them.   If you’ve offended someone – apologize.   Don’t drag  resentment around with you.   It will make you sad and bitter.  Forgive and move on with your life.
  If you have a strong belief, savor it.   Live your faith and set an example.   Live true to your beliefs and let that memory sway them.
Laugh.  Laugh A LOT.  Laugh at everything.   Remember, you are one of the lucky ones.  You managed to have a life, a long one.   Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full life.   But you did. So what’s not to laugh about?  Find the humor in your situation.
Take no notice of what others say about you and even less of what they might be thinking.   They’ll do it anyway, and you should have pride in yourself and what you’ve achieved.   Let them talk and don’t worry.    Now is the time to be free, at peace and as happy as you can be!

These are actually pretty good rules…..whether you’re old or not. God bless you,