Well, while I'm sure that all of of us are still 'young at heart', I do appreciate the fact that I don't have to listen to the immature generation's music, or ramblings and I really enjoy the peace and quiet that I get by being alone in that respect.
Arriving at this age does have its drawbacks though. The same stereotyping exists now, as it did back 'when' for anyone who reached the half-century mark. Once we get past the age of 50, we are labeled: "Has beens; all washed up; over-the-hill-gang, oldies but goodies and to quote my late Mother's answer to those misnomers: " I haven't been here too long, I just have too many miles behind me."
There are other problems we face as we grow older. Many of us have health problems, no insurance and we are discriminated against when it comes to getting a decent paying job. Then, something also happens to our image when we age, because we lose the respect we were given when we were younger, and for some reason our opinions don't seem to carry the weight they once did.
Look what happens when we face divorce, or a loved one dies. If you have been married for many years, the loss of a loved one can be devastating for the one left behind. It can be just as bad if you were married many years and suddenly find yourself divorced and alone, and contrary to what the male gender thinks, I believe that it is harder on the woman than the man, because many of us older women were homemakers and we didn't have jobs, therefore, we were dependent on our husbands for support.
I really believe that loneliness is probably one of the worst ordeals in life for any age to experience, but, I think it is especially harder for older folks to cope with.
Some people may enjoy living alone. Sure, the independence of not having to take care of anyone other than yourself is nice now and then, however, if you are a 'shut in,' or you have no immediate family and there is no one to talk to or socialize with, it can be especially painful.
I know that I certainly don't like being alone day after day. I don't like being without someone in my life to call my own. When you have been married more than one-half of your life, it is difficult to know that you no longer have some special person to share your life with you anymore.
There are many things we can do to help with the loneliness, but it is always there. You eventually go back home to that empty house, and while you may have had the time of your life during those waking hours away from home, when you return reality sets in once again.
I am a very gregarious, outgoing, extrovert, and I love life and I am thankful everyday to our Lord for giving me good health, a place to live, and the necessities needed to survive in this world.
While I still long for the companionship that one receives in having someone in life to love, I also realize that I have to accept joyfully whatever the Good Lord has in store for me. If I remain alone for the rest of whatever life I have left, I can take heart that this life here is short, because as James 4:14-15 says: "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will we will live and do this or that." So, when I leave this place we call Earth, I will never be alone again, because I will be with Him for eternity.
