Infant, child, teenager, young adult, middle-aged, old. That’s the grand procession through the years.  I do not know when the old part will end; however, thanks to long-lived parents and modern medical science, I know what health risks I possess, and I can imagine – even plan for – my later needs.

My transition to old has been profound. I ruminated about turning 60 for a full year before the blessed day. I shook things up with my work, moved to a new town, plotted in my mind and on paper my pre-retirement journey, and decided how to spend the first two years of retirement. I decided to narrow down my interests/hobbies and focus on improving one or two skills and not doing everything. I continued to reduce my possessions, (thanks to The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing). Like most oldies, I decided what is important and what I will focus on in later years. As a single oldie, I decided what kinds of relationships I want. As for the To-Do List, I cleared off the plate and threw things off the balance beam (thanks to For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards). I cleaned up my food intake and added a goal of taking 10,000 steps each day (thanks to Fitbit).

Now that my son is married, I let go of worry–hey I made it through life, he will too. Sounds like a lot, in fact, I am simplifying in all areas. Each activity, each day is something I choose, something I enjoy. If it doesn’t bring me joy, I discard it (see the Life Changing Magic….above). If it brought joy in the past I elevated it once again (more music). Not that life is perfect. I have ups and downs, work challenges, grouchy moods, and health matters. The difference is that I have  more focus and no longer waste time with things that don’t matter. Some people have intense focus at earlier ages. Mine came through the realization that old is the last phase and the desire to live oldness with gusto. Focus matters.

My introduction to oldness came when I lost a 59-year-old guy friend to a heart attack. Mortality, health issues, gray hair–so much. As always I ruminated until I beat the sadness and grief into the ground. I wrestled with God until I was exhausted. Is this it? Just struggle and work, then die like my friend? No, no, and no. I learned to see oldness is a gift, a time to reclaim what matters and what brings joy before transitioning out of life. A time to bring some joy to others (thanks to Ecclesiastes 3 and the Byrds), a time to LET GO.

My friends in their 80s say I am still young at 61 years of age. True, I am younger than them, but I am on the oldness journey. I see the gift, I feel the call to teach, support, and assist younger generations. I embrace the chance to simplify. The only other alternatives: stay the same as always, sit on a bench and watch my body and health degrade into nothingness, and/or to become a Maxine-like grouch. I prefer a happy oldness!