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"I Love Being Old"

Two years ago I was working as a language tutor for senior missionaries (individuals who dedicate their time to humanitarian and other honorable work for years at a time). I aided men and women from the United States to learn Spanish, and helped people from many hispanic countries learn English. Most often I taught them via Skype video chat, however, on occasion a missionary would come in person.

On one such occasion, a sprightly woman in her mid seventies came hustling up the stairs and whisked her way into our classroom. We spent a few minutes getting to know each other, and as we chatted, she confessed, "I LOVE BEING OLD!"

I'd never heard someone say that before.

She continued, "I love being old. I've had my whole life to learn things, I'm smarter now than I've ever been. My children are grown and have children of their own. I have retirement to enjoy time being with my husband and traveling the world. I love being old."

Though I still have many a moment of begrudging life's hourglass and it's obsession with change, I want to celebrate today some of the reasons why I love being old... older, that is.

Today I'm celebrating some of the reasons why I love being an adult.

I GET TO EAT WHAT WE HAVE IN THE FRIDGE WHENEVER I WANT. Sometimes Kevin will get up after we've enjoyed an ice cream sandwich and say, "You know what? I'm gonna eat another one. You know why? Because I'm an adult!"

TACT. I don't always have it, but I have far more of it than I did when I was a little kid. For example: an eight year old boy approached me in a class I was substitute teaching last week and said brightly, "No offense, but you have chubby legs!" 😟 I smiled outwardly and wept a little inwardly. Need I say more? Tact. It's a great part of being an adult. You just don't up and say that to people.

SPENDING MONEY. Of course I have to deal with taxes and rent/mortgages and stuff. But it doesn't take me three months anymore to save up for a $5 item at Walmart.

I CAN WATCH LORD OF THE RINGS. I couldn't do that pre-age-13. And now I watch all three movies at least three times a year.

I GET TO CHOOSE MY OWN BEDTIME. 8pm on the nightly didn't look so hot at age 10. But now if I want to go to bed at 8, I can (... if the munchkin cooperates...). Or I can go to bed at 2am after hours of working on a crafting project, like I did last Monday night.

I CAN DRIVE! I CAN GO TO COLLEGE AND CHOOSE WHAT I WANT TO STUDY!! I CAN REFUSE TO EAT MEATLOAF!!!

and last... I GET TO BE A TEACHER. I GET TO BE A WIFE. I GET TO BE A MOM.
And those I love most of all about being "old."

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