Questions for the mature older members...

I found this to be true in my case.

Thank you everyone that has replied. I am really enjoying reading your replies of experience, wisdom, reflection and humour.
I turned 50 last year and began to reflect on my life and where God wants me. Even with little things like saying my age out loud to wishing Robertt well in his relationships, to the bigger picture, letting God lead me finally, not just thinking about it but doing it.
Im feeling optimistic and blessed and it is amazing to me that upon reflection, everything that has happened in my life, the good the bad -all of it kept bringing me back to Christ so Im telling you Lord, Im ready. 🙏

Cinder - Children, pets, volunteer/mission work, careers, personal pursuits, friends and church are all wonderful in taking up our quality time. I think it is when we are idle that we tend to get too much in our feelings about what we dont have so its better to be busy and focus on the things that bring us fulfillment and do it in Gods honour.

RodB651 - I always had a bit of nervousness approaching the start of a new decade. The uncertainty I guess but like you I always ended up thinking, hey its not so bad! I like how you strive to be better than before.

Cameron143 - Yes life begins in Christ. I just happen to be 50 when Im taking Him seriously like never before. I never thought Id read a reply about supplements 🤣 but I know your post is well intended and genuinely from the heart so thank you for the great advice. My knees arent the best from a fall last year so I will have to check if there is duct tape in my first aid kit.

Lanolin - Maybe you could send us oldies some lanolin cream for our aches and pains. And I think road trips exploring what your country has to offer sounds like a dream or maybe ive watched too many van life videos.

Lynx - 6 years will roll on as slow or as quick as you want it to. 2022 for me was in slow motion but I prefer it that way, rather than wonder where the year went and what did I do in that year. Actually I was talking about age with my younger brother. He estimated that if the average age most people live to is around 80 then 40 is middle aged 😁

Bingo - CONGRATULATIONS on your 50th wedding anniversary!!!! 🎈🎆🧨✨🎉🎊🎀🎁💓🌺🌹🌼 May God bless you both always!!

Papermonkey - I hear ya. When I was 20 I didnt have a relationship with God. I knew of Him and only because my parents planted that seed when I was a child. Do I wish I had my 20 year old body? Honestly no, I showed my kid my scars from my pregnancy. Good scars, bad scars, I am attracted to people who have a story to tell. I can always be more fitter more in shape for sure tho.

Lighthearted - I am glad God is and continues to be your rock. Its inspiring to read your account of your gray areas and how God is with you no matter what. There is a lot of strength and faith in your post, thank you.

MsMediator - When I look back throughout my life I can honestly say that almost every interaction Ive had with older members of the community has been positive. Mostly they were in their 70s and upwards but their stories were the most fascinating and funniest and what I remember is always feeling welcomed by them and knowing they genuinely want to get to know me.

HealthandHappiness - Wow is she really your doctor!? She looks great!! What about you Mr H&H? Can you relate to being in the older or younger age group? After talking to you a while I think you are still as mysterious as ever lol

JesusLives - Just like with Lighthearted I will say a prayer for you both healthwise and Im glad for the little things that make your days easier 🙏 I really do need to fix my sewing machine because my creative side needs awakening. I like your attitude to life tho, you just get on with living. I also feel Im young at heart, its only when I see my reflection in a store window that Im reminded Im older but I am telling myself the older I get, the closer I am to meeting Almighty God.

Notonmywatch - What I meant by living your best life for me is taking the opportunities God gives me on a daily to bring honour to His name. I will make mistakes and fail but like Krumbeards avatar says I get up again lol. The narrow path isnt going to be easy I know that but Im grateful God loved us so much that we even have two paths to choose from.

Tourist - 100% agree with you. It makes sense to do a lot of self reflection in your 50s because you have 5 decades of our lives to draw from. In my 40s I noticed I was asking a lot of questions about God and when I reached 50 most of answers I got left me satisfied enough to know He is it for me. Theres no umming and aaaahing about Him anymore.

So where are the rest of the "oldies?" Or those who are nearing it? Would love to hear your experiences of getting older Has life been kind to you? How has your relationship with God progressed over the years?

congrats on reaching 50 I mean not many do reach this milestone that means you have been pretty steady in your life and have survived all life has to throw at you so far!

And for people who say its all downhill...isnt going down hill the FUN part anyway? You get to ski, slide, toboggan or maybe luge. Do it in style.

Well I blame my father for my lack of being biologically related to Peter Pan because I keep getting older physically as well.
Muscles and joints and teeth take more work than ever before. Reading glasses because my arms aren't long enough...

But otherwise I am a LOT more relaxed about social anxieties and in the choices I make.

I do get to do things as an official "grown up" that as a younger person I'd never get to do. And since my son is grown....I find mentoring young men to be fascinating and fun.
The construction industry is full of young guys who don't know how to live life as an adult. But a lot of them are wanting to. Doing simple things such as ensuring your wife gets a new outfit for Easter every year or setting up a Christmas account for savings every year and beyond....the simple things matter. They make life easier and better...because relationships matter. And of course giving thanks to your Creator...because even if you think He isn't listening his agents and enemies are...

But...currently my head is filled with moving and packing and the new adventure. I was itinerant for my first two decades. I've been stuck in middle TN for the past 3 decades and now I get to move once again. And it's relaxing. Going from big city life to small town life again and hear the locals all trying to figure out how to get out...as if big city life is so wonderful.

your wife could get a new outfit every week if she saves up her money or shops judidciously at opshops.

Is a new easter outfit actually a thing? A lot of women are now doing capsule wardrobes so that they can wear everything without wastage.

I think its more important men get new outfits because a lot of men will wear their clothes till they are falling apart with holes in them.

Most churches do run op shops or at least a jumble sale.

I'm all set with the downhill aspect for sure.

Some women shop too much and others don't do any....but a new Easter Outfit is a moderate answer to solve usual issues.

Guys usually get new clothes at that time too.

It's a holdover from a bygone era. January is usually reserved for new bed linens and towels. Fall is time for kids clothes and shoes.

It's a way of budgeting for occasional spending.

It's funny the small town we moved to Jamestown... the locals call us transplants and if we wish there was a donut shop or a better grocery store than Walmart the we should move back to where we came from... I love slower life and we have pretty much everything we need. I do wish we had a Burger King though...lol

Isn't that the truth... I am eyeing a top and a hoodie that one has a hole in it and the other is just old and grubby that need to be tossed that Tourist keeps wearing....I replaced the hoodie with a Detroit Lion hoodie on his birthday a couple of days ago... The trash can will be seeing those items in the near future...lol

I don't know about the downhill but I got the fall down aspect going a little too often... good thing I'm short so I don' have far to fall and fat so that I have a padded landing...

Does Tourist have butterfingers? 😋😁

Pfft! My mother lives in GreenEville. The Ingles there has GOAT BUTTER! It has MULTIPLE kinds of goat cheeses! Don't tell me about restricted grocery choices.

Move over here to West Tennessee and you'll see what no choice is like. This is the real gastronomic wasteland. The local idea of "fine dining" is Golden Corral and it's almost impossible to get any fish except catfish and occasionally salmon.

Amazon is going to be needed....
Fancy food isn't the problem for me as much as a few fancy ingredients.
Good flours
Good chocolate
Good herbs I can now grow myself.
Spices are also mail order.
I finally found the caraway seed in a Walmart after checking 3 different grocery stores for it. I needed it for rye bread and potato soup.

I can make a LOT out of a little. And having two freezers helps.

The reason I say the above is that I'm moving to a very rural location.

I love Golden Corral but of course, there is none of those here. Catfish and salmon is good

I'm 71. Life changes dramatically when the kids grow up and leave home. It changes again at retirement. For me, the best part is not being bound to a work schedule. I enjoy the flexibility. The less palatable bit is age related health issues. However, I am content with life. There is much less pressure on us and I would not like to go back to the rat race.

I hope i am not living my best life now...