April 29, 2012
Reflection: What I've Learned (I think) so Far...
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To have realistic expectations. The notion of telling our children that they can be anything that they want is ridiculous. They can't but there are things that are within reach. Same goes for us, the adults. If I keep missing a goal, I lower the bar. Really, no one cares and you'll gain enough confidence to get back in the ring...so to speak.
Remember all those who have helped me along the way and to reach out to others in need. In a way...paying it backward. The psychologists say that the person aiding (or even just giving someone a compliment) gets as much of an endorphine release as the recipient.
To be patient. Okay ... again, to be more patient (ha...this is often a hard one...breathing and counting to ten helps).
To do two nice things for my husband every day and not call attention to the fact. Or even, expect him to notice.
To be grateful and thankful for good health! And to do everything I can to keep myself healthy.
Yesterday is over. Maybe I made a mistake and I can't fix it. Move on. Forgetaboutit. Resolve to do better.
Laughter is always the best medicine. Take a few doses daily. People like to be around those who make them laugh, or who laugh at their jokes.
All these years and this is what I've come away with. Oh boy. But I may have some time left...it's never too late to teach an old dog new tricks!
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Posted by Nancy Rossman
on April 29, 2012 at 5:16 PM
in Aging |
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April 8, 2012
What to do about the hair...............
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I have been dying my hair brown for almost 15 years. It started with a little grey...here and there. Then more of it, at the crown. Some years later someone pointed out that it was, okay, everywhere.
"It's just the roots," I said. "It can't be grey everywhere."
My daughter, so diplomatic and patient, explained that if I had been doing it for so long.......there couldn't be any real brown left. Anywhere. I had never thought of it in that light. How depressing.
A few more years passed and I noticed I was spending more and more time at the salon or with Clairol and it took longer for the dye to do its job. How frustrating. I finally had the nerve to ask my hairdresser, Joseph, what my options were.
"It isn't grey, anyhow," he started. "It's white underneath it all. And it's everywhere. You should embrace who you really are." Yeah, easy for him to say ... he's 45 and doesn't have a grey hair in his head.
But being the cool guy he his, he thought of a way to sell me on embracing this drastic change. "Once you let it be all white, people will say you look young for your hair!"
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Posted by Nancy Rossman
on April 8, 2012 at 12:24 PM
in Aging |
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December 26, 2011
The day(s) after Christmas..........
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The grown kids want money, I don't care what their age may be. The grandkids want electronics ... ipads, video games and the like. The grandparents find that although they love seeing both of these groups, all they really want is peace ... in their house.
My husband said, "They are cute and all. But the noise, commotion, and tears. Oh boy. One year to rest up."
I smiled. "And they'll be older."
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Posted by Nancy Rossman
on December 26, 2011 at 2:49 PM
in Aging |
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November 6, 2011
The Wisdom and Wit of Seniors
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Art Linkletter coined the phrase, "Kids say the darndest things." It is certainly a pearl and one we could agree with. But kids and seniors share something in common ... it is their ability to say exactly what's on their mind, which is often humorous. It is the unexpected answer, or the one we were all thinking but no one wanted to voice.
I like to people watch at airports. You know, I'm sitting at my gate, waiting to board ... I've already read the paper and done the crossword, and I want to save the book for the flight, so I'm bored. I either eavesdrop on other's conversations or I just start looking around. Such was the case two weeks ago when I was in Atlanta.
Two older gents, very nicely dressed, were seated next to me. Brothers I think. I look up to see a beautiful young girl in a skimpy outfit approaching before they see her. Within seconds one guy does notice. "Paul, three o'clock ... quick." The other brother almost gasps. They are riveted for the short time it takes for the girl to pass and then they turn to one another and giggle. "If that skirt were any shorter," the one guy says, "it would be a belt."
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Posted by Nancy Rossman
on November 6, 2011 at 11:09 AM
in Aging |
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August 29, 2011
How You Know You're Getting Old
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.jpg) Last week my husband and I went to a beautiful wedding in Bellevue, Washington. Lindsey and Matt as you see pictured. Lindsey is the daughter of the first (of three) young men I mentored in the commercial real estate business. When Lindsey's father, Brian, came to work for me she was a mere two years old. She got into everything when Brian brought her into the office on the weekend and we were trying to work on proposals or presentations. We bribed her with Happy Meals. And boom, here she is at 26 looking adult and radiant.
I looked forward to the wedding for a year, teasing Brian that I couldn't wait to see him cry as he walked Lindsey down the aisle. As it turned out, I was the one who cried. And cried. I am a sucker for these things, especially when I know the bride or groom well.
As we moved into the sit-down dinner with assigned seating, I noticed we were seated at a table with seniors...gray-haired, slow moving, outdated clothing. You get the picture. "Wow," I thought, slightly offended. My husband assured me that it was probably assumed we'd have more in common with older folks. Then, as conversation went on, except for one gentleman, we quickly learned they were all younger. OUCH.
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Posted by Nancy Rossman
on August 29, 2011 at 11:55 AM
in Aging |
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