OH GOD, I HATE GETTING OLD

There is only one alternative to getting older in life, and I’m sure none of us relish that outcome. As one gets older and reaches the age in life when one can be called a senior, we all reflect back on our journey in life and wonder where all the time has gone and how we have found ourselves getting to this age, in what seems like a very short time, it feels we were young, just a few short years ago. If you feel the same way; I came up with this phrase, to express how I felt, when I knew this had happened in my life. That phrase is. “Oh God, I hate getting old.” If anyone reading this; and they have not reached that point in their lives where getting old is a concern, just keeping living, I guarantee you will.

As we have lived our lives day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year. Even though you have experienced every waking minute of your life; it seems as though as we get older, the years seem to go by so much faster, you may have thought to yourself, as you age, why does time seem to pass so much more quickly than it use to? How are we supposed to comprehend this, and what is the essence of growing old? Your clothes get old, your shoes get old, and your car gets old. When this happens they’re either discarded or thrown in the junk heap. Thank God this doesn’t happen to old people. With people, whose stars once were glowing bright and full of light, over time that once bright light just gets dimmer and dimmer, until it just fades away. Oh God, I hate getting old.

I know every person born is endowed with that certain something, which makes him or her, a one-of-a-kind individual. Of all of the billions of people on this earth, you’re the only person who is exactly like you. We are all unique in our own way. Most all of us who are older and have raised families and seen our sons and daughters, raise families of their own, and some of you will see your grandchildren begin to raise their families. And if you live long enough some of you will even see your great-grandchildren begin to raise a family. I’m sure many of you look back, and think about when you were young and raising your own family, and how times have changed. As you age and your own star begins to lose its twinkle and becomes dim. It’s been said, the only alternative to getting older is death. No one wants to die; but God ‘I Just Hate Getting Old’.

I compare our lives to climbing a mountain. I call this “the mountain of the life". Going up that mountain, progress is slow, tedious; but also exciting and rewarding. You will look back at the heights you have reached and the heights you aim to reach as you keep climbing the mountain of life. Once you reach the top of that mountain, you will think to yourself it was a tough and difficult journey with some pitfalls along the way, but also a gratifying and fulfilling journey and you are glad you made it. Each segment of that journey stands for the years of your life. As you begin your journey; down that Mountain. The journey going down seems much faster than your journey going up, just as the years of your life seem to be going by much faster than before. You know when you reach the bottom of the mountain; life’s journey will be over. If there was only a way, you could slowdown the pace of this journey, to stay youthful longer, and keep that feeling of invincibility you had when you were younger. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve asked myself many times, “does time really go by that much faster as we get older; or does our mental time clock just get out of sync as we age”. As I look back upon my life’s journey, and as the years have passed, I look back and recall some of the younger stages and segments of my life and think about my life’s journey and how I have arrived at this point and time in my life. What a journey it has been.  Well, now that I have reached the other side of Life’s mountain; those recollections are now just fading memories. I often think to myself. Oh, God I Hate Getting Old.

I have written this poem to express some of the feelings we all have as we are nearing the end of life’s journey

I hope the words, of this poem puts all of this into proper perspective.

OH GOD, I HATE GETTING OLD

It’s seems like every year, I‘m fading a bit

It's a process of aging, I am told.

This body doesn’t work, the way it use to.

Oh god, I hate getting old.

The color of my hair has turned to silver.

My youth, which time has stole

The pep in my step, is fading fast.

Oh god, how I hate getting old.

Some of my friends are already gone.

They’re in a grave; so lifeless and cold.

If they were still here, I would hear them saying

Oh God, I hate getting old

We all want to live as long as we can

Whether you are poor; or you have riches and gold.

Whether rich or poor, we all must die.

Oh god, I just hate getting old.

We are all dealt, different cards in life.

It’s a hand, one day you must fold.

When youth is gone, we wonder where it went

Oh god, I hate getting old

If your life was like a phone call

You, could put your age on hold

But father time, will not be denied

Oh God, I just hate getting old

When I say to myself, I’m still young

It’s wishful thinking, to be so bold.

I look in the mirror, and reality sets in

Oh, God, I hate getting old.