The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, she was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let her know.
Old Age, I decided, is a gift.

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.



I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?



I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.



I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves wit h abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.


I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as wel l forgotten.. And I eventually remember the important things.



Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.



I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.


As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.



So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live f orever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)


MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!

MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER!

How did you become such a ray of sunshine? Your messages are always uplifting and cheer me up. I hope others read this, too

Nello,

I LOVED your post. I used to get negative about birthdays too until my friend one year celebrated her 50th, (I was 40). And she was delighted. I asked how she did it as I was unhappy to age and she seemed to not mind it at all. She basically said many of the things you did but most importantly that she had too many friends who never saw anything close to 50! What a wake up call. It's truly a celebration!

Thank you for this and all your other wonderful uplifting posts....

Danielle

Nelly, that was so awesome. You are such an encourager. I just was feeling my body is getting old as I went down the steps and up again to get the phone. I asked my coach this morning if she knew you. Of course she does! Everyone knows smiley Nelly! Thanks for the light you shed.

Are you one of the online veteran's that went throught the program? Those words made me have tears in my eyes. I am going to be 30 in Feb and I have been dreading it since Aug ( which is probably what got me here) I often get fearful when i look ahead to the future , it seems soo overwhelming. Thank you for this post!

Nelly,

you and your post will be the reason I will be smiling this March when I turn 38......thank you!!

Hi Nello,

I loved your post it was awesome! What do you say to someone younger than you when they ask you about being old? I am in my late 50's and believe me I certainly don't feel like it! I feel like I am in my 30's. I take care of myself, eat good healthy foods, take vitamins and supplements, go to a holistic medical doctor rather than a regular medical doctor. I have learned sooo much about how the mind, spirit and body work together to create a healing within you.

Your Self Esteem is how you talk to yourself every minute of the day. What are you thinking? Is is positive thoughts or negative thoughts? You can be as young or old as you want to be! I feel young and have a great attitude about life and my goals that I want to achieve. I keep my body looking good and I don't even work that hard at it! I don't eat any sugars (just stevia) and my diet is low in carb's. Anyone can look good and have a great looking body!

It's all up to you what you want your Self Esteem to be? Do you want to look and feel young or do you want to look and feel old? It's in your hands!!


Happy Face!!!

Nelly you brought tear to my eyes what an amazing women you are and what an amazing way to look at your journey here. You are a true treasure Nells and I am so blessed to have met you. Your words will be in my heart and I will try to remind myself of them whenever I look in the mirror and wonder where my youth went I will look at it in a totally different way now.
You are a true blessing for all of us.
Thank you Nells for being you.
Love you
Mimi

Nelly ~

That was such a beautiful post, it brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much. What a wonderful writer you are.

Im 58yrs old Happy Face! And Like you I feel 30yrs old.. Yes i have gone through the program and finished in 2005.
This program gave me my life back. To live with realistic goals and thoughts make you a different person. It gives you fullness of Life, and Enjoyment of Life!
Yes, i guess you could say, im a veteran, with a fresh outlook and newness of Life! I dont want to waste ONE hour of each day either, espeically on unrealistic fears! Life is to short for those!
Thank you Mimi and Barb and all the others who posted,, Your are all such beautiful people!!
So, many people here have Blessed, encouraged, strengthen me when i needed it.. And lots of those people still come to this site, Just for that purpose!! Look at this Journey in you life as a Blessing!!! Get out, go see things, enjoy the beauty of life and all its creation!!!
Take a Deep Breathe, and embrace the journey the program is taking you through. You wont be the same person you were when you began.. You will be BETTER, STRONGER, More ASSERTIVE, HEALTHIER and most of all,, YOU will either have no anxiety at all, or you will be able to catch it before it starts!!!! Hoorah!!! Love you all,,, Nelly

Hi Nelly.

That was incredible. Are you a writer? Everyone needs to read that. There are so many people that are so afraid of getting old. But just reading your words are so inspiring. Thank you. I am 42 years old and sometimes I also worry about it.

DeeDee.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: deedee00,

Hi there Nello,

The community is such a great place to meet special people from all over the United States who all have one thing is common. We all understand each other and knows what the other person is going through. We care about each other, even through some people in our lives may not understand our anxiety disorders or even what we feel as we are experiencing our body symptoms and panic. It's so nice to know we are not alone in this.

I am also 58 years old and feel like 30. I have gone through the program 4 years ago the program does change your life. You are a different person in the way you view a situation, handle life, think more positive, are more assertive, love yourself, get your self esteem back, pat yourself on the back more, go out and enjoy life again, have goals, get rid of those scary thoughts, know you are your own safe person and the list goes on and on.......

I have to agree with you Nello, you have to look at this journey in your life as a blessing. LOOK AT ALL THE NEW SKILLS THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED AND KNOW THAT YOU CAN HANDLE STRESS AND ANXIETY AND NOT LET IT RUIN YOUR LIFE. YOU GET YOUR LIFE BACK AGAIN AND THAT ALONE IS A BLESSING!

As a family of severe anxiety sufferers we have it made. We all have the tools and know how to beat this thing and live again.

Happy Face!!!