No idea

What will your life be like in three years?

I don’t have a clue? Isn’t that wonderful?!

I find that if you try to think ahead you will always see more of what you have now. Whereas if you go with the flow and keep your eyes wide open, you never know what you may discover, and that can change everything.

As is clear in my blogs, I left Spring Chicken behind 2 years ago (okay decades!), and one thing I have observed in the older generations is – do not think old! Don’t despair at the younger generation, think like them.

There is no need to hate the world, no need to judge today against a world that is gone. Yes the world was a far kinder place when I was born, but I now recognise that as post WWII shock. In truth that didn’t last long. The 60s put paid to that.

Responsibility towards others stopped being a thing, it was free love, sire at will, walk away when you feel like it. That’s just one thing I loathe the 60s for, but in line with my youthful attitude it was also the decade of some of the best bands and best music ever. In fairness the mini skirt worked very well for me too. 😉

There is only now

Looking back is to seek something that no longer exists, that can’t be changed. Your eyes are at the front of your head for a reason. It’s a huge biological clue!

I live in the here and now, and apart from the shocking state of this world, which should be of concern to every generation, I’m enjoying life.

I love technology, I love modern cars although I do have to remonstrate with mine when it panics and sets off alarms because I drive too close to a bush. I like the safety features though.

I was backing out the other day and a guy shot straight behind me in his car, my car just stopped! There would definitely have been a collision, brilliant result as far as I’m concerned. Bring on driverless cars.

I actually like this idea as many older people really shouldn’t be driving, but it’s hard to peg when that time is exactly. Deterioration is often slow and the tipping point is a single moment. I’m thrilled with the idea that I will still be able to get about and be independent. And shop!

Attitude is more than everything

It’s your very life. Your everyday. How you think, how you feel, how you act, all becomes who you are. But being a certain age isn’t easy. There are times nowadays that you can’t fail to realise that people are living too long. They improved everything so we would!

Covid taught us that. I wouldn’t have got a ventilator at my age. That was a bucket of cold water if ever there was one. Especially when you try hard to be fit and do the right things! All those biscuits, desserts, chocolates, alcoholic drinks, drugs (never my thing but there’s a principle here), you didn’t do. All the exercise you did and still do. It all counts for squat when you cross that red line into the sixties. And I’ve done lots of squats!

You pay your NHS all your working life because you have to, and towards a pension, then they resent or refuse the treatment you paid for and don’t want to give you your money back. And no we didn’t pay less in those days, £1 was worth a great deal more!

Deafness helps

I’m saying this to prove that any person over 60 has to become a triumph over opinion, a warrior against ageism, and selectively deaf to all trash talk about age.

Do you know what? It’s fun. I didn’t have time to rebel when I was younger. I do now! Plenty of time! I also have plenty of attitude.

When I was at university the younger students thanked us for keeping them young. Both generations benefited hugely from studying alongside each other, and if you’re going to diss the younger generation, don’t do it to me. I refuse that ridiculous kind of old.

My 16 year old neighbour has been a remarkable young woman since the age of 12. I like her a great deal. I like talking to her. She fun and interesting, and introduces us to new music.

So just like her, I’m walking my life path, dreaming, pondering, looking for opportunities, planning my next step, thinking about what else I can do. Rescusitating my writing.

When you have time, use it, enjoy it, not because it’s going to end one day, young people sadly die too, just because right now you’re here and making the best of today will help you to have more of them.

Off to write that best seller! It’s about time, and why not, I’ll enjoy it. Catherine Cookson wrote her first book in her 70s. If you haven’t heard of her look up best selling authors, she kept that up for 20 years. Such an inspiration for the mature youth of this world.

That’s what I am, a wrinkly, rebellious, 60-plus, with a lifetime’s experience of finessing my attitude. My two-year-old self has nothing on me! But I draw the line at laying on the floor screaming, I have a far more effective ‘look’ and I don’t have to get back up afterwards.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Deb xx