u/OldAchesAndPains

One of my favorite jokes is about a man who gets his annual physical and the doc tells him he has some bad news. The doc says you only have 6 months to live and you're going to have to give up drinking, smoking, sex, and all your favorite foods. The old guy says, "Wow! Will I live longer then?" The doc says, "No - but it'll seem like it!"

I'm in my upper 70's and have COPD and high blood pressure. Unfortunately, the best way to address these issues is by changing my lifestyle. But I don't want to and I am not going to. I've been retired over 15 years now and in many ways it's been the best years of my life. Why give up the things that make life enjoyable? I've read that a lot of the american culture is based on the Puritanical belief that life MUST be suffering. If you're not suffering, you're doing it wrong. LOL

I've had no problem accepting the declining physical abilities of youth (strength, stamina, flexibility, etc.). I accept that it takes longer to recover from minor injuries. In return I recognize that I have been given time to enjoy things I really like but never had time for. I am going to enjoy those things and not feel guilty.

I'll probably pass sooner rather than later - but I'll enjoy the time I have!

Good Luck all.

Remember as a kid we were told to not play in the streets? Good common sense. But I live in a small town and people seem to think that sidewalks are invisible or something and they walk in the middle of the street! This morning I saw a young woman pushing a stroller with 2 infants down the MIDDLE of the street. She saw a neighbor along the way and moved to the side of the street to talk to the neighbor, but when she was finished she purposely moved back to the MIDDLE of the street to continue her walk.

It's not just young people. I see people of all ages walking in the street, ignoring the perfectly good sidewalk that was put there for the sole purpose to serve pedestrians!

What the heck is wrong with these people!

ps: I feel better now. Thanks for coming to my TED talk. :)