By Kayne Pyatt, Herald Reporter
I I think aging has a bad reputation, especially given that when we manage it, we have so far escaped a much worse fate.
And if an article I read on Buzzfeed is to be believed, I’m not alone. The article’s lengthy headline read, “When you hit 60, you’re free: Older adults share what younger people can look forward to, and to be honest, getting older sounds pretty sweet.”
In case you’re wondering, TBH means “to be honest.” At least, that’s what I think it means. People my age aren’t always up to date with internet abbreviations. But you can understand why the author, Dannica Ramirez, wanted to abbreviate it when she had the chance.
Anyway, to be honest, I’ve found getting older “pretty sweet” so far. Of course, it does have its drawbacks. For one thing, I’m sick of all the emails I get about hearing aids and prepaid funeral expenses. And yes, I know that was a poor choice of words.
But all stages of life have their dark sides. I never fully recovered from my algebra class in college. But that period of my life had its bright sides, and according to the older adults quoted in the article, aging also brings many benefits.
Several people mentioned that they are saving money thanks to Medicare and senior discounts. I’m not eligible for Medicare yet, but I like discounts as much as the next guy. I’ll admit that I feel a little insulted when someone looks at me and automatically assumes I’m eligible for one – even though I am. They could at least do me a favor and ask me for my ID.
Several people mentioned that they had more free time. They didn’t say that, but I assume they can all afford a pension and their children haven’t moved back home.
Some mentioned the freedom to do or say whatever they wanted. To be honest, I was skeptical. Someone said, “You can get away with a lot, because who wants to argue with an old lady?” Your children, that’s who.
Another said, “There’s a certain, almost dangerous level of personal liberation.” They said that for them, liberation manifested itself in “almost extreme generosity.” I try not to be too generous myself, especially because that behavior can quickly go viral on TikTok.
Several people mentioned a positive change in their attitude toward material things. One said that possessions felt like a “burden” and that the money they saved by not buying so many things would be spent on travel and other experiences. I suspect that as we get older, we finally take to heart what we’ve heard our whole lives: we really can’t take it with us. And even if we could, it would be hell to have to lug it around with us for all eternity.
One person said they were able to manage their anxiety better as they got older, and another person said they didn’t worry as much as they did when they were younger. They said they even reached a point where their children worried more about them than their children.
On one hand, that sounds great, because I worry way more than I’d like. On the other hand, I’m not sure I would wish all that worry on anyone, especially someone I love enough to worry so much.
Someone talked about the freedom to dress how you want because nobody cares what we look like when we get older. But I’m not sure it’s really true that nobody cares how we dress. Try wearing the wrong T-shirt to a political rally.
And finally, one person said they felt like they finally had their life together. “I no longer felt like I was missing the ‘life manual’ that everyone else seemed to have.” Good for that person. To be honest, I’m still waiting for the manual.
Dorothy Rosby is an author and humor columnist whose work appears regularly in publications throughout the West and Midwest. You can subscribe to her blog at www.dorothyrosby.com or contact her at www.dorothyrosby.com/contact.
