Streams of Mercy

Our “Fifty-Plus” group meets this week, and we’ll be exploring “Growing Older Gracefully.” I found a wonderful list of “50 Helpful Tips for Aging Gracefully,” and want to share some of my favorites.

l. Do something you enjoy every day.

2. Work at friendships.

3. Embrace change.

4. Learn.

5. Make your home your very special place.

6. Eat with friends and family.

7. Get sufficient rest.

8. Each morning before you get out of bed thank the Lord for 5 things for which you are grateful.

9. Smile a lot.

10. Pray daily.

11. Travel.

12. Exercise.

13. Spend time with other generations.

14. Simplify.

15. Practice acceptance. Know that there’s a very good chance that our mobility will lessen as we age. We must think about how we will deal with that so that when that time comes, we can still live fully.

16. Treat others with respect and dignity, and you’ll find respect and dignity come back to you.

17. Cut down or eliminate multi-tasking. As we age, we don’t do it very well, and it often just causes undue stress.

18. Grow til your very last breath!

19. Create milestones and work toward them.

20. Have someone you can tell anything.

For thirty more tips for aging gracefully, join us at Fifty-plus on Wednesday!

“An Old Farmer’s Advice” is humorous and helpful! Here’s a few of my favorites:

l. If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.

2. Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

3. The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with watches you from the mirror every morning.

4. Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.

Of all the tips for growing older gracefully, this is my very favorite:

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Leave the rest to God.

This special verse has much to say to us. “I will be your God throughout your lifetime – until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. (Isaiah 46:4, NRSV)

May we all be about growing older gracefully!

Elizabeth