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Older And No Wiser
Still Waiting For Wisdom To Make An Appointment
Being older brings a lot of fun things in its wake: less energy, more night time visits to the bathroom, infrequent sex, hearing and vision deterioration, and dismissive looks from young people. You anticipated much of this, but at least you thought that there would be some other compensatory benefits, such as assuming a mantle of wisdom and dignity. Alas, this is America, and your worth is often measured primarily by what you do for a living and your financial net worth. You struggled for years for years to raise your family in accord with the moral values of respecting and accepting others no matter how different their background or their views were from yours. You worked for decades for non-profit agencies that provided needed services for people in need. That history has little currency in today’s society.
What old age does do is humble you. If there was any doubt in your mind before, you now know for certain that the world does not revolve around you. Now that you are retired, it hardly notices you.
You at least prepared financially for your post retirement years, though health care premiums, dental care, hearing aids and eye glasses costs do strain the budget. Emotionally, spiritually, and mentally, you have much work to be done. Such as how to be alone amidst silence and…
