I meant to ask the oldies on here, do you feel a sense of belonging with other oldies because of your age?
I do. It's like a laid back, nothing to prove, realise that most stuff isn't important, appreciate life day by day and count your blessings, more smiley, more patient kind of clique.
It's great.
Despite the odd froth and rant and the odd nod to my youth (I bought a Discharge T shirt the other day, Stoke's finest punk band, and I couldn't be more pleased with myself) i think I feel the same.
Had something of an epiphany reading a book the other day. The book asked some questions about examining what one really wants from one's life - sorry to sound poncey but it's the easiest way to write it.
I can honestly say that not one of the things I came up with were 'for' me per se , there were no things, no bucket list blah. I mean, I guess in a roundabout way, what I came up with is for me
too because it definitely has reciprocal benefits for me.
I am under no illusions about what I have been but all my future thoughts are in areas like being:
a) A good role model, teacher, mentor to my grandchildren
b) A good, supportive father
c) A passable husband
d) A better son to my somewhat ailing mother (long way to go here)
e) Remaining very positive with my personal outlook and broader view of life and I genuinely, like you, sound, take massive pleasure in the most ordinary of things - some of this may be age but a brush with reasonably serious illness can help this a lot. Not always as I see a lot of people crushed by the weight of a past illness.
Beyond this I think of other charitable, altruistic things but they are aspirations at the moment as I have quite a lot to do with the initial list