Opinion: Starting to feel the effects of getting older

Lately I’ve been thinking about old age, and for good reason. Two close friends of mine, one a few years older than me, the other about three weeks younger, have given me pause about my own future at this point in my life.

My older friend died after a heart attack. My younger friend had a bad fall and must now retire into an assisted living facility. They are just two of many fellow baby boomers I’ve known who have either passed on or been overcome with illness or disability.

There but by the grace of God go I. At age 68, I have a couple of health issues, but I’m still kicking. High blood pressure and diabetes are my burdens to bear these days — one could bring me down today, or tomorrow, with a single stroke or heart attack; and the other could wear me down slowly, robbing me of a decent quality of life in my latter years.

If you’re over age 60, you’re probably starting to feel the effects of an aging body and mind. From making it harder to simply get out of your chair to forgetting your cellphone, or your keys, or someone’s name, old age creeps up on us all — if we’re lucky enough to live long enough.

When I was younger, I admired old men and respected old women. It was the way I was raised, to respect your elders. But I also looked forward to being an old man with great stories to tell (like my grandfather) and being able to laugh over a lifetime of experiences (like my dad).

But I was naïve in not understanding just how hard old age can be — physically, mentally and emotionally — on a person.

Granted, some old folks are thoroughly blessed in their twilight years, owed mainly to good health, security and loved ones nearby. But for many, old age is not at all like that.

Many grow lonely in their old age. Others lose their independence and, for their first time since childhood, must rely on someone else to care for them. Still others have lost their will to live any longer, falling into depression as they wait for it to be over.

Here’s something I’m experiencing right now: After a meaningful career in my chosen field as a newspaperman, I’m now being left behind by technology. I’m like a horse-and-buggy man watching all the cars go by. And yet, I keep putting out a newspaper, because that’s what I do.

Such are the kinds of changes that can make an old man grumpy. It might just be that our greatest old-age challenge is to not turn dark and resentful in our innermost thoughts and feelings as we’re pushed out of the way. I fight such a dark place from time to time by counting my blessings, of which I have plenty — family, friends, love and laughter, even in the midst of my horse-and-buggy career.

Yes, this old man has been blessed, even during the hard times. Pull up a chair sometime and listen to me ramble on about one life experience or another and maybe you’ll see that, like my grandfather, I’ve got some hellacious stories to tell, and like my dad, I can still laugh about it all.

Tom McDonald is editor of the New Mexico Community News Exchange. Contact him at:

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