The spool of life runs out faster and faster once you pass sixty. Each day is precious, and you try to make the most of it. At the same time, your body starts rebelling against you. Joints start aching, weight becomes harder to lose, hair falls out, little things start to go wrong. I told my husband that old age is God's way of making you ready to leave this body behind. The worst part of aging is outliving so many of your friends and family members. The last leaf hanging from the tree feels alone and abandoned. That's why it's so important to make new (younger) friends all along the way, and why children and grandchildren help hold you up. Old age isn't an excuse to drop out of society. We have to keep involved in the world around us as long as we can. There are so many places where our volunteering can be helpful and so many needs to be filled. And it's a great way to make new friends. I know that there are those who simply drop out once they retire and spend the rest of their days doing whatever gives them pleasure, or doing nothing at all. If that's your thing, so be it. But the happiest people I know are the ones who do what they can to make the world a better place, and feel needed.
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