May 1
Aging For Men
If you take care of yourself, don’t sweat it. Work on attitude.
Unless you’re hell-bent on dating much younger women, AND YOU HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE, aging isn’t bad. I don’t mind admitting I’m 80. My photo is 4-5 years old.
My attitude? I’m a tall, well-dressed, nice looking man. I’m not arrogant about it, I just am. Like the dude in the photo above, I have thick bushy hair. Not that wrinkled but if you are, so what? What’s good looking about you? How’s your brain?
Attitude
It has me work out a minimum of 3x a week, eat healthy, buy last season’s designer clothing, see a lot of doctors for maintenance, and enjoy returning women’s smiles. I’m careful about my appearance even if I’m jogging in cut-offs and old running shoes. (You should buy a pair.)
Thankfully, I’ve grown more outgoing. I smile, shoot the breeze with people and all of my friends are much younger. After a long drought, I’ve returned to shooting pool and drinking beer.
You Don’t Need to Re-invent Your Personality
Just maintain it and improve it. Again, I swear, it’s all attitude. If you’re a studious, quiet person, that’s fine! Just don’t allow yourself to fall apart, get physically moving.
The instant you think badly of yourself, stop! Investigate: why do I feel that way? I’ll tell you why.
You’ve allowed people and institutions to abuse you. You bought into the bullshit the world wants to heap on you. DON’T ALLOW IT. Just walk off and away. You can if you really want to.
Religion
Get rid of it. If you believe in God, as I do, go straight to Source. Why do you need a middleman? (Most clergy are men) All religion are ancient institutions founded by men who want to control you,brainwash you so you’ll depend on them to save you. If you’re honest and open, you’ll see that. If not, you won’t.
Prayer
You don’t need religion to get close to God, and yes there IS God. Have a chat. Talk to Him (He is above gender) or Her. I like the idea of a holy Father since my biological father was such a dick.
Prayer doesn’t have to be something you were forced to memorize, it isn’t formal. You can just talk, aloud or in your head. He/She has been waiting for you.
Work Your Body
Join a gym, hire a trainer. Not that expensive. Tell them you want to shape up age appropriately. In other words, I can’t lift the weights I lifted in my 40s. I don’t even try! After the pandemic I joined a small locally owned gym, started with light weights and worked up to a few more pounds and a few more reps bit at a time. It’s not a contest.
Get out of the house! Get MOVING. Arms, core, legs. Get a bicycle. Take some walks. Exercise but do it smartly, age appropriately, but do it as a matter of routine.
Learn Something
The elder President Bush was skydiving at 90. I quote him: “Don’t be drooling in the corner, get up, get out and DO something!”
I’ve learned two other languages and study quantum physics. Yes, damn right it’s hard! However, your brain wants you to work it out! READ instead of drifting into blooms of boredom sitting on your ass in front of a TV. Some TV is decent, some, but it’s not a healthy habit. Learn! Read! Take classes!
When Should I Start?
At 40. Yes, you work; yes you have obligations; yes, you have a family and yes they’d love to keep you around.
Get rid of habits that don’t build you up. Make a gradual shift in your habits, your home, your hobbies. Maybe move into another home? Just make moves to help yourself, whatever seems reasonable, just don’t vegetate!
Help Others
Allow me to tell you from 35 years experience, helping others makes you proud of yourself. That isn’t the object, but it’s a hell of a side effect.
Having been one, I mentor at-risk kids. Poor kids, getting bullied, parents in jail or drying out, these kids need you. There are competent, serious, dedicated non-profits all over the country who need volunteers now more than ever. Do some good. Make some contributions. Do both.
In Conclusion
There’s only one of you. Don’t let it fall apart. START YOUNG. Yes, illness is a clear and present danger. I thoroughly believe it, too, is affected by attitude.
It’s been said in many differing ways, but you become what you think, you become what you spend your time with, you become what you think of yourself. Like a dog coming out of water, shake that stuff off you. Re-design a bit. Fuck living in the past. Make the present moment the best, and prepare for an abundant future.
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