Sunday, February 20, 2011

OLDER MAKES YOU APPRECIATE YOUR BLESSINGS MORE

(This was written in the other blog and brought here to share with you. This was born out of a lunch date I had with my best friend.)

------- My best friend said this to me --- "The nicest thing about getting older is that you begin to see what truly matters... the things that do and the things that don't."

She's right as she does things so differently now as compared to those early days of youth. So what are those? Eat food that are more healthier and nutritious. No to junk food. Go to the movies with or without company and enjoy it just as much. Simple pleasures, simple tastes, simple needs. Spend time with people you would consider treasures. You waste no time with jerks. Not just pray only when problems assail you... but rather talk to God all the time... small things, big things, happy, sad, everything. And always with a grateful heart. Try not to dwell on misery disappointment frustration failure cos it's all passing. Life is short so why waste it living in misery. These unpleasant things when finally understood so well, you realize, don't define you. But what you do with it WILL define you.

Yet.....

ofttimes age is not appreciated nor given its due credit. So many of us can't quite see beyond the exterior - failing eyes, weak gait, sag or bulge where there wasn't before, white hair, failed hearing, clothes that no longer fit, or perceived slowness of the mind.

Sadder that some families would rather move their old folks to homes for the elderly or leave them to fend for themselves old and alone.. or rant and rage that it costs them a fortune minding their health issues and care... or laugh at them for their perceived uselessness stupidity and weakness. It's appalling to see and hear that from the very children who were nurtured from birth to independence by their mothers and fathers... parents who gave their lives so that their children could have theirs.

But I'd like to think that this is more the exception rather than the rule. We love our families, we love our parents, we appreciate them and we keep them with us for as long as we can through thick and thin, through highs and lows, through all the seasons of life.

As my good friend further says from the standpoint of age.... "You see all and learn to count your blessings."

God bless you.

15 comments:

  1. Yes aging does have it's share of aches and pains but for the most part I can honestly say, I have learned and discovered more about myself and life these past few years than in my entire life!
    Very true and honest post Ellen.
    Love Di ♥

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Di! So glad to see you. Oh you're so right about this --- "I have learned and discovered more about myself and life these past few years than in my entire life!" -- , same thing for me.

    Thanks for coming by with your lovely message. It's so appreciated. Take care and God bless you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's lovely to see you again, Sana/A New Beginning. Thanks for taking time to drop by. Hope your day is getting along just fine.
    Blessings to you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  5. When I was younger I always thought older people could not think like they use to. But, I am 77 years old and have changed my mind, I can think and do about the same and my thoughts are clear. I think old age robs you of your looks, you have more pain and I feel sorry for the elderly that have problems with their mind, this should not happen. We should be able to go to the end of our life with knowing who we are and remember our loved ones and be able to look back on the life we have lead. Have a nice week.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Mam Ellen, what a nice inspirational message. The most person that I appreciated and thanked most is my 64 years old mom. Without her who taking care and love us, we are lost. WE learned a lot from her. My mom is now satisfied to see her children happy. Thanks for sharing and Have a blessed day!

    ReplyDelete
  7. True, Margaret, we have a lot of things we didn't quite understand in our youth. I used to think that people, well some of them, were bad. Now I know better that bad is the end result of something that made them that way... and that's a long history to look back to. Now I too understand better why God hates the sin but not the sinner. Because sin is not entirely the fault of the sinner.

    Thank you for taking time to come by. It's lovely and appreciated. God bless you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  8. How wonderful to come across a person, like you, who loves and adores parents and family. God must be quite pleased with you, gentle heart. Blessings to you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Blessings......

    This is only true if you are the type to do introspection. I have had the unfortunate or fortunately depending on how you look at it to be exposed to a lot of older people some are as you state however there are also many that are not appreciative or count their blessings, some are bitter, angry, resentful and mean.

    Great post....

    Have a wonder filled week.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Rhapsody,

    'bitter, angry, resentful and mean' is not just about old people. It is too to some others younger. I agree with you. We are what our personal histories good or bad have made of us. But then I still believe that the choice is still there to make something out of nothing or create some positivity from the negativity occurring in our lives. Age does not remove that choice. And not making that choice for better or good... is still a choice. If people choose to be bitter, angry, resentful and mean.. so be it. They lose, no matter how you look at it. And those who know how to see their gold.... Win!

    So pleased to see you visit with sharing your own thoughts too. Thank you. Blessings to you!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi there, Raj!

    Delighted you're able to make it here. This is one of the two blogs maintained... and holds the archive of posts done in o3. Remember that one? You introduced me to the site. Have lots of wonderful memories with the o3 blog community then. :-) Thanks to you, dear friend.

    Welcome too to blogspot; have cruised down your blog 'Poetic Nonsense'. Looking forward to more wonderful writing from you.

    God bless you and your loved ones.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Welcome, Jagdish! :-)

    Thank you for dropping by and liking the piece. It is a delight to see you. Have a blessed day!

    ReplyDelete