Many of us—perhaps close to 50% of those who were invested in the election a month or so ago—have gone into withdrawal, hibernation, or are simply doing whatever we can to escape difficult political conversations.
Personally, I am looking at the decision I made 57 years ago to “legally” immigrate into this country. I never regretted that decision, even though 1968 happened to be the year that changed everything as soon as I arrived, and 2025 could become another such anniversary.
But, then again, our world has become a vastly different and dangerous place for many of us.
As a 23-year-old back in 1968, I was naive. President Reagan had not yet reiterated the words of John Winthrop’s 1630 sermon identifying our country as a shining city on a hill during his farewell address to the nation in 1989.
However, I was convinced early on that, regardless of our troubled history, this was the place to be. Now that I am getting close to becoming an octogenarian, and after having felt the urge to defend my political viewpoints, be better informed and more sophisticated, although currently just as ineffective, I am resigned to exhale and relax. A friend of mine put it succinctly: “The sun came up this morning, we will be all right.”
Hence, I am submitting the “Ten commandments for seniors” a friend recently sent me. Enjoy:
1. Talk to yourself. There are times when you need expert advice.
2. “In style” are the clothes that still fit.
3. You don’t need anger management. You need people to stop irritating you.
4. Your people skills are just fine. It is your tolerance for idiots that need work.
5. The biggest lie you tell yourself is: “I don’t need to write that down. I will remember it.”
6. “On time” is when you get there.
7. You have noticed that people your age are much older than you.
8. Aging has slowed you down, but it hasn’t shut you up.
9. You still haven’t learned to act your age and I hope you never will.
10. “One for the road” means peeing before you leave the house.
Happy Holidays!
Theo Wierdsma
