The way to get Even More Out Of Your Life

A team of oldies were sitting around, having a coffee, and referring to all their health conditions - having a whinge, actually. The conversation proceeded to go something like this.

'My arms have got so weak I am able to hardly lift up this mug of coffee, ' said one.

'Yes, I know, ' said another. 'My cataracts are so bad; I can't even check in with my espresso. '

'I couldn't even mark an X at election time because my hands are so crippled, ' volunteered a third.

'What? Speak up! What? I can't hear that you a, said one elderly girl!

'I can't turn my head due to arthritis in my neck, ' said one, to which several nodded weakly in arrangement.

'My blood pressure pills cause me to feel so dizzy! ' announced another.

'I forget where I am, and where I'm going, ' said another.

'I guess which the price we pay for getting old, ' winced an old man as he slowly shook his head. The others nodded in agreement. 'Well, count your Blessings, ' said a female cheerfully. 'Thank God everyone can still drive. '

Aside from the Eric-Idell moment (always look on the bright side) and the scary options for other motorists, some oldies seem to be to like having a whinge about aging and growing old.

Yet, modern medical scientific research has helped to add years alive. In days and nights gone by, a myocardial infarction or stroke would signal the end, but now stints, bypasses, and wonder drugs can prolong life even further. It will not follow, as the discussion above illustrates, that increased longevity necessarily includes a rise in quality. Following all, Grouchy Marx guaranteed us, 'Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough'. This emphasis on the quality of a lot more rarely a recent 'discovery'. Several thousand years ago, Seneca described the

A fantastic message for growing old gracefully comes from octogenarian Daniel Klein. In his bestselling book Travels with Epicurus, Klein resolved never to think on something over which he previously no control - like, growing elderly. Instead, he said, 'I would rather try to learn how to spend my time in the perfect way'.

Passing away young, as late as possible, is one of the key challenges for everyone. And to that end, becoming an active participant rather than an onlooker (or winger) is worth the hard work.