The Advantages of Getting Older

Česky: Naslouchadlo – instalace do ucha English: Hearing aid, photo taken in Sweden (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“There are advantages of being older,” I said,

She said, “You’ve lost your mind,”

”Yes,” I answered, “You’ve got that right,

And often it’s hard to find,”

She replied, “Name one of those special things,

That come with advanced age,”

I said, “I’m sure I can do more than that,

Now that you’ve set the stage,”

“Remember those Easter eggs,

That I hid so carefully outside,

I found a few more rotten ones today,

That’s why they’re fun to hide,”

“And those bills I forgot to pay,

Bring people pounding on my door,

I greet them very warmly and say,”

“Please come and visit some more,”

“If I sit quietly for awhile,

I appear to be crafty and wise,

I don’t have to prove a point,

Or cover my trail with lies,”

“Through my lifetime the mistakes I made,

Are now considered experience I gained,

And my experience becomes wisdom over time,

No longer are my mistakes a pain,”

“I can say what I want,

Be bold with words I say,

For just because I appear old,

I’m forgiven for yet another day,”

“People treat me with utmost respect,

They often shout and wave,

But one finger is hard to see,

And their words I don’t need to save,”

“You can talk all you want about me,

My hearing has started to fade,

And if I don’t like what I hear,

I’ll turn off my hearing aid,”

“I still need love and lots of hugs,

Even at this crusty old age,

So give me hugs, lots of hugs,

I’ll count them as my retirement wage,”

“You might consider me a dirty old man,

The way I look at you,

But don’t let it bother you much,

I’ve forgotten what to do,”

“I would tell you more, oh, there’s so much more,

But I forget what I thought,

You’ll have to catch me in a moment,

Doing something I should not,”

“If I ask you to repeat what you said,

It’s so I’ll have your wisdom to keep,

On the other hand, if you keep talking on,

I’ll get much needed sleep,”

“There are advantages of being old,

In spite of being wrinkled and gray,

Every day that I’m still above ground,

I give thanks for each bonus day.”

Related articles

• The New Old Age Blog: Why Won’t They Get Hearing Aids? (newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com)
• I don’t need hearing aids (withyourcuppa.wordpress.com)
• Study of the Day: Most Older Adults With Hearing Loss Are Untreated (theatlantic.com)
• The importance of hearing aid care (savingsroundup.com)

One Good Side to Growing Older

Image via Wikipedia

When I was
young and my eyes were sharp,

I could see almost
to infinity,

My knees
were good and I could run,

And I could
still trust my memory,

 

Mirrors were placed so I could preen,

I was young,
and I was strong,

Somehow the
years passed,

So many
things went wrong,

 

Now I’m
older and my eyes are dim,

But I can
still see from memory,

My knees
were repaired, I wish I could run,

From old age
I certainly would flee,

 

I avoid mirrors
and the truth they bring,

Once I was
indestructible, but not anymore,

The years
have taken their toll,

And shaken
me to the core,

 

Now I can
still see with glasses,

To be sure I
keep several pair,

For I forget
where I had them last,

Or I sit on
them in my chair,

 

I laugh more
often in my dreams,

I can walk,
I can run, I can leap,

When I awake
I’m still tired,

So I nap
until it’s time to sleep,

 

There has
been one good side,

To living
long and growing old,

Someone
thought I must be wiser,

Because of
stories that I’ve told,

 

You might
think that I’m wise,

But I’ve got
news for all,

I’ve made
many mistakes in life,

Some I don’t
want to recall,

 

From mistakes
was experience gained,

I’ll count
that as something good,

From experience
comes wisdom,

Perhaps that’s
understood,

 

The more
mistakes the wiser I got,

To that hope
I fervently cling,

So I’ll quietly
listen to all you say,

Before my
words take wing,

 

Should you
pass me on the street,

And I don’t
remember who you are,

Treat me like
someone wise,

Your kindness
will go far,

 

Someday you
might be like me,

Stumbling
and halfway blind,

Remember it
might not be fun,

Looking for
your mind.

 

 

 

Related articles

• How we create false memories: Assessing memory performance in older adults (eurekalert.org)
• Are your parents ageing gracefully? Health issues to watch for in older people (bupa.com.au)
• The Perks of Growing Older (everydayhealth.com)
• Older really does mean wiser (news.bioscholar.com)
• Older and Wiser… What Happens to the Brain as We Age (tricitypsychology.com)
• How We Think Is How We Are: The Power of Self-Stereotyping (bigthink.com)