My
mother had her first heart attack at age 55.
That’s another thing that I think about when turning 55. My brother turned 55 a few years ago and he
was thinking about that too. He has not
had a heart attack, thank goodness! My
mother died at age 63 from a second heart attack. My father also died (age 69) from heart
disease. Before I was diagnosed with cancer, I always thought I would die of
heart disease because it runs in my family. I still might.
My parents’ shorter than average longevity makes me think that perhaps I
should do something more meaningful with my life. I am thinking of retiring but I might be a
little bored and frankly, I’m concerned about doing all spending and no
accumulation anymore. I wish I had a
better sense of my longevity picture. Today I saw the article below on another blog I read called “The Big Picture”. The article is called “What you Learn When You’re 60”. I’ve shortened the list from the original blogpost. I could definitely relate to most of these at my tender young age of 55. Maybe I’m mature for my age.
by
Death
is not distant, it’s inevitable, and ever-closer.
No
one knows anything. Confidence is a front. Everybody is insecure.We’re all lonely looking to be connected.
You’ll regret choices earlier in your life, but you’ll accept them.
You’ll
want the decade back when you were lost and drifting.
You’re
never going to recover from some physical ills, aches and pains are part of the
process of dying, and that’s what you’re doing, every day.
Your
parents said television was the idiot box, and you feel guilty every time you
watch for hours, but you’re addicted.
Being
good-looking is overrated. Sure, it opens some doors, but it stunts you in
other ways. Character is built by challenges, if you avoid them, you’re at a
loss.
Having
friends is better than having money.
If
you were never on the path to riches, you will never be rich.Doors are closing every day. If there’s something you want to do, start now.
Acceptance
is no easier than it was when you were five, but it’s necessary in order to
soldier on.
You
really want to be involved with someone your own age, because no matter how
attractive a younger person might be, they do not get the references.
People
let you down.
Everybody
is out for themselves. They make decisions accordingly. Don’t take it
personally.Some people were dead at thirty. It’s a full time job trying to stay alive.
Most
of what you learned in school you’ve already forgotten.
If
you’re working for the man, it’s just a matter of time before you lose your
job.
People
are dying to tell you their story. Ask them questions. They’ll tell you
everything.
You’ll
become more comfortable in your own skin.
You’ll
be happier.
You’ll
stop doing things you don’t want to do. Actually, this happens not long after
you move out of your parents’ house.
You’ll
stop being fascinated by that which consumed you previously. Sports may become
meaningless.
You
won’t know who the people they’re talking about in “People” and the rest of the
gossip rags are, and you won’t care.
You’ll
realize no one leaves their mark, except for a few people who didn’t know they
were doing so, so it’s a futile pursuit.
Wrinkles
only bother those who have them. Beauty changes when we get older. We’re
looking for a glint in the eye, a sense of satisfaction and adventure.
If
you’re up for anything, we’re attracted to you.
No
one can keep a secret.
There
are truly rich people and chances are you’re not one of them. Unless you’ve got
a friend, you’ll rarely get the best seat, you’ll rarely get preferential
treatment. You don’t want to see yourself as one of the unwashed masses, but
you are.
You
don’t want to be President.
Life
is topsy-turvy, just because someone’s successful today, that does not mean
they will be so tomorrow.
Even
the best and the brightest have kids who screw up.
People
oftentimes don’t want to hear the truth, you’ll have trouble getting ahead if
you don’t know when to hold your tongue.
Everybody
gets cancer, if you ain’t got it, your time is coming.
You
think you want to live forever, but you don’t, because none of your friends
will be around to share it with.
There
are two types of people, those who want to retire and those who don’t.
There
are two types of people, those who prepared for retirement and those who
didn’t, and some have to continue to work when they don’t want to.
Your
health may not allow you to continue to work, even if you want to.
It’s
fun learning what the people you grew up with are up to, but you really don’t
want to hang with any of them that you weren’t hanging with before the
Internet.
People
don’t change. Certainly not unless they want to. So expect the person who
bugged you in school to still bug you as an adult. And know that chances are
you can never ever get back together with your ex because what caused the
breakup back then still exists.
Marriage
is hard.
Divorce
is even harder.
Sometimes
life is better with a new partner, but sometimes it’s not.
People
who want to make you feel inadequate feel inadequate themselves.
Not
everybody grows up, some are still bullies.
The
biggest rebel in school is complacent as an adult.
Some
of your best friends will retreat to religion.
You’ll
laugh at those trying to look younger, or follow their lead down the path of
inadequacy.
You’ll
see the passing of your parents as a precursor to your own demise. Once they’re
gone, you’re next.
You’ll
love making references to old movies and songs.
Unless
you have children, the Top Forty will become meaningless.
You’ll
be stunned that the biggest TV shows and stars of yore will become forgotten as
time goes by.
You’ll
be more interested in the news, and more interested in politics.
You’ll
think it was better when you were young.
Even
though you are closer to death, you won’t want to be young again. You had so
many questions, you were so angst-ridden, you were searching. As the cliche
goes, youth is wasted on the young.
The
key to longevity is letting go of the past.
You’ll
look back at one specific time in your life when you were happiest, and you’ll
discover the people who shared the experience agree with you.
You’ll
recognize hype for what it is. And become disillusioned by it and advertising.
You’ll
realize every generation has a teen phenom, a boy band that captures girls’
hearts that fades away.
Being
famous is overrated, you treasure your anonymity.
Life
is for the living, so live it up!