old age

[zheer]

   What are your thoughts on old people, sadly i dont socialize or work with any senior citizens and i feel that a lot of older men and women seem very unhappy and diappointed with their lives and the way things have changed for the worse even though almost everything is available for those who desire worldly pleasures.

[johnny-boy]

   What are your thoughts on old people, sadly i dont socialize or work with any senior citizens and i feel that a lot of older men and women seem very unhappy and diappointed with their lives and the way things have changed for the worse even though almost everything is available for those who desire worldly pleasures.

I find there are few differences between a healthy young adult and a healthy older person. Staying healthy is the key.

Remember Arthur Rubinstein was still giving concerts at 92. BTW, my first piano teacher is still teaching at 93 and he still has a passion for music.

Best, John

[henrah]

Some of the elderly get maltreated, and get shoved into homes when their family can't be arsed with them any more. Thankfully my Grandparents are still loved.


Though what confuses me is: what is it that causes Alzheimers? Is it an event that occurs during the persons life, or might it be genetic? My Grandmother on my Dad's side has recently aquired it, and her mother also had it. I hope my sister doesn't get it, but by the looks of it I might get it as my short term memory isn't the greatest. It might be from toking here and there, but I'm pretty sure that it was bad before I started. Usually I need something to remind me, like someone talking about someone else and that will usually trigger a memory from a few days previously that the said person called and left a message, of which is too late now for anyone to bother with
Henrah

[zheer]

Remember Arthur Rubinstein was still giving concerts at 92.

  AHA, he had a very long and happy life.

[prometheus]

I guess this isn't really on topic in the way other people have posted on elderly people, but anyway.


I often find it amazing to listen to elderly people, most of them have been male, who have been rebels and activists and that talk about their lives and about ideology. They face death, or rather it cannot be far away, and they look back on their lives. It is hard to explain but there is some kind of special wisdom, relativation, acceptence and satisfaction. Anger and frustration is no more.

[henrah]

Like they know what will happen and there is no more stalling it? Like all they can do is wait and muse on their past experiences? Sometimes it's quite interesting to hear what they have to say, and my Grandmother's memoirs (the one on my Dad's side) were actually quite interesting to begin with. I think I should finish reading it at some point.


Heh, funny thing: I call my Mum's parents Granny and Grandpa, and my Dad's Grandma and Grandpa. I have no idea why that is, but it makes for easy identification between them.
Henrah

[gilad]

i really like old people, those with humility anyway, they have learned all the lessons that life has to offer and there is so much you can learn from being in their company. i sometimes go lawn bowling with my cousins lots of old people there, it's quite fun actually.

[prometheus]

In my case I was talking about a politician and a intellectual. They weren't dying, actually both of them are very much alive. But they are elderly and you just don't know if you are going to die next year or live on for ten years or more.

It was not that much about dying itself, but about their career, their responsibility, being over.

Actually, with the memorial days of the WII being finished today in my country, there was also a report on TV about a british jewish man, aged 95, who lived in Holland during the war and he was one of only two men who survived the transport of 700 Jews from Westerbork in Holland to Auschwitz. He talked about educating children and teenagers at schools, his help to a museum and his 'battle' against the neo-nazi's.

Maybe old men become children again, no macho feelings and a lot of wisdom. Sure, bitterness is sometimes assosiated with being or becomming an elderly person. But some people can avoid this. That is a virtue and something inspiring to me as a young person. 

[gilad]

prometheus, that is very well put. i totally agree.
i personally wish i could skip all the mid life stuff and get old already.
i'm always looking for shortcuts.
.

[henrah]

Yes, I wish I could suddenly gain years of wisdom in an instant. Then I won't be making so many darned mistakes lol

there was also a report on TV about a british jewish man, aged 95, who lived in Holland during the war and he was one of only two men who survived the transport of 700 Jews from Westerbork in Holland to Auschwitz. He talked about educating children and teenagers at schools, his help to a museum and his 'battle' against the neo-nazi's.

What a life lived....I'm starting to hope in resurrection so his memories will live on.
Henrah

[gilad]

hmmm? who is he?

[prometheus]

It was Leon Greenman.

[gilad]

 thanks. wow, 96 this year.