Well, it’s official!
Today, I am eligible for all senior discounts and the old-age pension.
SENIOR…OLD AGE…
Those adjectives couldn’t possibly apply to me, could they??! Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m grateful to be alive and kicking, in relatively good health with only a few aches, pains, etc. It’s a privilege denied to many.
Plus, discounts and extra income certainly don’t hurt. No, what shocks me is the rapid-fire passage of time.
Already, we are in the year 2020! It seems like only a short while ago; the world was panicking about coming into the 21st century. Remember Y2K?
That was TWO DECADES ago!
My husband (who will be 70 this summer) and I find it hard to believe and accept that we are now supposed to be in our dotage. After all, we are the baby boom generation, the erstwhile hippies, eternally youthful! Right??!
Speaking of “Baby Boomers” when did that become a derogatory catchphrase? 😮 What do you think of this?
Seems like the generation gap is even wider than in decades past!
Often, we will see someone we know after a long time and be shocked by their decline, only to realize they are younger than we are!
Why do you suppose some people age more or less gracefully than others? Apart from health issues, I think it mostly has to do with attitude and joie de vivre (joy of life).
And, let’s not forget about music! Attending a concert makes me feel more young and alive than anything else.
10 Positive Benefits Of Listening To Music, According to Science►
We try to make the most of life and always aspire to have something to look forward to, be it travel, a show, getting out and about with friends, or whatever.
Things to do, places to go, even if it’s something simple, like a walk in the park, can help to stave off boredom and depression. Not to mention, we both still work (but that will change this summer when hubby retires.)
Although “semi-retired,” I have doggie houseguests to walk more often than not, even when I don’t feel up to it (like now, when it’s cold and miserable outside).
Exercise is essential to keep those old joints from stiffening up too much. (Not to mention, the weight issue! Metabolism slows down with age.) I need to practice what I preach more! Self-discipline is not my strong suit. 😛
This chair workout is excellent for those of us with bad knees and arthritis. I have yet to make it a regular habit, however. Shame on me! 😳
Another thing we must always do is ignore “sage” advice about how we should dress and act for our age. What a load of bullshit that is!
The stereotypical senior citizen is supposed to dress conservatively, have short hair and – here’s a stupid thing I read recently (for women) – stay away from large hoop earrings.
No way!
[Unless you like it, of course.]
Thumb your nose at convention, and embrace your uniqueness.
Be like Ilona Royce Smithkin:
[she’s turning 100 this year! 😎 ]
Or, these guys! 😀
MORE ON THE SUBJECT:
[click images to read – all posts open in new window]
What are your thoughts about ageing?
Thanks for coming by to help me celebrate this milestone birthday!
COMING UP, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31ST:
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Dog Mom and (retired) Canine Innkeeper in suburban Toronto, Canada, known as The Doglady. Former corporate workaholic. Writer, photographer, digital creator. Animal lover, music fanatic, inveterate traveller. Eternal hippie/rockchick. History, literature and cinema buff. Hockey and soccer fan. Dedicated night owl. German/Canadian binational, multilingual. Let me entertain you!
49 thoughts on “HOW TO THRIVE AT SIXTY-FIVE”
Belated Wishes! Love your energy!
Thanks! 🙂 Age is a state of mind, I do believe (barring any serious health issues).
Belated Happy Birthday!! I love your energy and enthusiasm. That’s how one stays young forever. 🙂 Excellent tips on surviving 65. My Dad turned 70 last year but he is so much more active than me. We can hardly keep up with his exercise routine.
Thanks for the birthday wishes! 🙂 Your Dad is 70 and more active than you? 😮 Wow! He must be Superman. I’ve seen some of your yoga poses and I could not even attempt them. I am trying g to get into a more active routine, but it will be easier when the weather warms up and I can take longer walks.
We are almost birthday twins!!! Mine was Sunday, January 26th. I hope you had a marvelous time celebrating the day of your birth! I’m right there with you in the boomer category, and you are so correct….it is all about attitude. As I sit here in my hoop earrings, I can proudly call myself a digital immigrant and have yet to buy any “conventional” shoes. So, let’s raise a glass of red wine (because red has many health benefits) and toast our the amazing generation. X
Well, Happy Belated Birthday to you, Lisa! ? We had a fun long weekend and I hope your birthday was good, too. I love BIG hoop earrings and wear them all the time. 😀 Cheers! ? Thanks for coming by.
I will return to this post often especially when somebody tells me, “you can’t wear that” or “you can’t cut your hair like that.” 🙂
Also. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I just posted on your FB page and totally spaced it here!
Thanks! We had a fun long weekend. 🙂
Do what you want, wear what you like, and to hell with convention! 😀 ??
You’ve said a mouthful, LOL. Happy birthday week to you Deb! You’re as old as you feel! 🙂
Thanks, Deb! 🙂 Some days are better than others, but I’ll NEVER be as old as many people seem to be! 😀
Happy Birthday week to you, Debbie. I am glad you are still able to get about in such fine fashion. Walking those dogs has to be strenuous, some days. I do a lot of walking with my job, and at the end of my day, I feel better when I have been active.
Oh, and those discounts are definitely a plus!
Thanks, Myke! 🙂 The discounts are certainly a perk. Walking the dogs can be strenuous, depending on their size and degree of rowdiness. 😀
Happy birthday Debbie… I am sure fantastic celebrations. I am 67 in a couple of weeks and have no idea how I got there… here is to many more birthdays and lots more fun, love and laughter. xx
Happy Birthday in advance, Sally! 🙂 We had a fun long weekend to mark this one. It’s incredible how quickly the years fly by! Thank you for your good wishes.
I hope you have a very happy and blessed birthday! You sure don’t look like you’re ‘in your dotage’… live, or in cartoon!
Thanks! 🙂 We had a fun long weekend. And there’s nobody in their dotage around here! ?
I’m two years past the 65 milestone. Turn 68 this June.
I”m proud of what the boomers had to offer. We had the best music, the best ideas, and the space program with its moon landing Not to mention the clothes, the cars, and real Coca Cola. LOL Happy MOnday.
OH, and happy birthday! mea culpa
Thank you! 🙂 We made a fun long weekend out of it. Enjoy yours in June.
I completely agree with you, Paul. We Boomers had the best of everything! 😀 Those Millenials should learn to respect their elders, right? 😉
Congratulations to your “Milestone” Birthday, dear friend! Your post about this theme is so delightful, in art and words, after having read this, everyone wants to be 65….. Wishing you health and happiness, always!
Thank you, Karin! 🙂 I’m not so sure everybody wants to be 65. If you’re older, probably, but younger people are likely not in a hurry to get there. All in all, I’d rather be 35, myself. 😀
Love this post, Debby! Congrats on reaching 65 and happy birthday! I just turned 60, so I have 5 years before the Medicare kicks in. Boomers have made youth such a value and culture, but at the same time, redefined aging. Most active people over 60 look 10 years younger and consistent physical activity is a huge factor along with decent genes. And long hair, heck yeah, and going gray? I’m daring mine to go gray, lol! Keep up the dog walking and concert-going, they make a difference!
And a Happy Belated 60th Birthday to you, Terri! 🙂 I agree that we have redefined ageing. In decades past, people our age looked so much older. As for going grey, I started young (at 25), due to heredity. My father was white at 26. Only in 2012 did I finally give up the hair dye and I love the result. Grey is the new blonde. 😀 But, it’s not for everybody and your dark hair looks lovely. You might enjoy this video. Thank you for the birthday greetings.
Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, dear Debbie! You’ve such an engaging way of reminding us all that it’s not so much the miles we travel, but the smiles we collect along the way.
Well-said, diedre! 🙂 Thank you for the birthday wishes.
Happy Birthday, Debbie! Yep, I have long white hair and I’m a rocker! At, 74, I am proud of it! I love this post!
Sounds like we are kindred spirits, Eugenia! 🙂 Thank you for the birthday wishes.
Hubby is 72 and I’m 58 and we’re having the time of our lives. We get up and go and do what we want. We just do it a bit slower. It’s all good.
♪♫Happy Birthday to you,♪♫
♪♫Happy Birthday to you,♪♫
♪♫Happy Birthday Dear Debbie,♪♫
♪♫Happy Birthday to you.♪♫
Have a fabulous day and week, my friend. Big birthday hug. ♥
Sounds like you’ve figured it out, Sandee! 🙂 Thank you for the birthday serenade.
Congratulations and Happy Birthday!! You’ve reached a great milestone and please keep your awesome attitude. Thanks for ending with Steppenwolf.
Thank you, Carol! I refuse to grow old. 😀 Nice to know you’re also a Steppenwolf fan. John Kay is a musical hero of mine and largely underrated as a musician. Cheers!
I’m 73. Retired at 62. 70 is the new 50. As for dress, I spend most days in my lounging PJs. No bra which makes life much more comfortable. Slacks and low-heeled shoes when I go out.
Yesterday there were a lot of cars at a neighbor’s home. Thinking the man who lived thee might have been ill or such, I decided to google him and was shocked to learn that he is only 66. I thought he was older than me. Hard to tell nowadays.
BTW, Happy Birthday!!!
Agreed, Denise! People our age in decades past seemed a lot older than we do, now. 🙂 I haven’t worn a bra since they invented spandex camisoles. Never been one for high heels, due to a weak ankle, and I love my (orthotic) flip flops in the summer. Caftans are my at-home attire in summer, sweatpants in winter. Comfort is definitely KING, but I enjoy dressing in Bohemian style when going out. Love the summer maxi skirts and dresses! 😀 It’s funny how younger people often look so much older, isn’t it? Quite a shock, sometimes! Thanks for the birthday wishes. We had a lovely long weekend.
Happy birthday!
Thank you, Freda! 🙂
Debbie,
Happy Birthday, darlin’! The years do go by in a zip, don’t they? Our bodies do behave different than our minds as we age but you’re so right, if we keep a youthful mindset then it’ll shine through in everything we do. 🙂 I love the videos of the elders which really brightened my morning! Ilona is absolutely amazing for her age. You can always tell by the way someone talks when they get older just how young they are at heart. Their whole face sparkles with enthusiasm for life. Have you noticed? The chair exercises are good for anyone. It pays to stretch the body. We are a social of sitters both old and young, so if all you have time to do is move in your seat then that’s better than not moving at all. Hey, you’ll get a lot of that not moving practice when you take a dirt nap, right? lol I hope your day is every bit as special as you are! xx
Thank you, Cathy! 🙂 You’re so right about Ilona and the others. Their “joie de vivre” is evident and vital for keeping a youthful mindset. As for the chair workout, some of us have trouble getting down on the floor and back up again, so it’s the ideal solution! If only I could stick with it and make it a regular habit. 😛 Well, walking is good too, and I do a fair bit of that. Keeping active is crucial for staving off that “dirt nap.” ?
Hi Debbie, I’ve always said age is just a number. I have many friends your age and older and they really inspire me to age gracefully and with fun. Fun and having things to look forward to and do is the key I believe.
Of course staying active is also very important. Those that just sit home age much faster.
Happy Birthday and thanks for the tips and encouragement as we age 🙂
You nailed it, Lisa! ? Having something to look forward to is so important, along with staying active. 🙂 Thank you for the birthday wishes. We made a fun long weekend out of it.
Congratulations Debbie … have a wonderful week and lots of life ahead as you’ve shown us – yet we need to do everything we can to keep ourselves positive. The dogs will keep you up and running! It does sound as though you and your hubby have things ‘taped’ …. so go and enjoy – I’ll be thinking of you as you celebrate … and even though not musical, I can see that music helps us all. Cheers and continue to live life … Hilary
Thanks, Hilary! Life is short and we try to make the most of it. 🙂
Yeah, it’s weird to think about getting older. My wife and I were just talking about this topic. Well, actually she was thinking a lot about dying of late, but I just told her we’re getting older and I think about it too–just try not to dwell on it.
This week I turn 69–same as my high school graduation year. Last year they had a 50th reunion. I didn’t go because it was in Tennessee and I’m in L.A. As it turns out there were reports from all I heard from that it was boring and I would have wasted my money.
Oh well, there I go rambling like an old man.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Happy Birthday in advance, Lee! 🙂 It’s hard not to think of dying, now and then, when you’re over 60. Many people don’t make it that far, so I’m grateful to still be alive and kicking, despite the aches and pains. 😀
I can imagine a room full of “old geezers” would be pretty boring! 😉 My husband and I only see other people in those terms; never ourselves. I bet it’s the same for you!
Happy Birthday, Debbie! My 65 is in March. I agree with everything you said, especially the music. We’ve seen quite a few of the same bands I notice. And I’m a bit unsettled by the boomer derogatory remark too. Great post. Hope you have a spectacular day!
See? it’s true about the music. ♫ I never would have guessed you were my age, Janet! 🙂 Those millennials should respect their elders, right? Times sure have changed! 😛 Thanks for the birthday good wishes. We made a lovely long weekend out of it.