Slashdot Mirror
Want to Be Happy? Think Like an Old Person (nytimes.com)
The New York Times: Older people report higher levels of contentment or well-being than teenagers and young adults. The six elders put faces on this statistic. If they were not always gleeful, they were resilient and not paralysed by the challenges that came their way. All had known loss and survived. None went to a job he did not like, coveted stuff she could not afford, brooded over a slight on the subway or lost sleep over events in the distant future. They set realistic goals. Only one said he was afraid to die. Gerontologists call this the paradox of old age: that as people's minds and bodies decline, instead of feeling worse about their lives, they feel better (Editor's note: the link may be paywalled; alternative source). In memory tests, they recall positive images better than negative; under functional magnetic resonance imaging, their brains respond more mildly to stressful images than the brains of younger people. John Sorensen, who liked to talk, brought cheer to every conversation, even those about wanting to die. Helen Moses and Ping Wong knew exactly what they wanted: for Ms Moses, it was her daughter and Mr Zeimer; for Ms Wong, it was mah-jongg and the camaraderie it entailed, even if the other players spoke a different dialect or followed the rules of a different home region. Mr Jones, Ms Willig and Mr Mekas all spent their energy on the things they could still do that brought them satisfaction, not on what they had lost to age.
Wow. I do feel better!
God, give me coffee to change the things I can
And wine to accept the things I can not.
There, FTFY.
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on lunch.
Remember these things.
Or these alternatives
1. No one gives a shit what you think.
1. We do care about what you think but we know we can't change your mind because you're probably just as old, stubborn and crotchety as we are.
2. No one gives a shit how you feel.
2. We actually do care about what you feel. Been there. Felt that. And yes it's no fun. Let's get together over coffee some time and talk about it.
3. You aren't as smart is you think you are. If you are, keep your fucking mouth shut about it.
3. Maybe you know more about that than I do, but I'd rather talk about my hip replacement.
4. Don't bother trying to save the World. The World doesn't give a fuck about you or your efforts.
4. We tried to save the world and gosh darnit, just ended up screwing it up more. Good thing the youngsters have so much energy and attitude. Maybe they can straighten out the mess we made. Now it they'd only get off their phones and stop swatting each other.
5. Take responsibility for the dumb fuck things you've done and don't do them again.
5. Take responsibility. Clean up the wreckage of the past. Try not to do the same stuff again, but frankly I'm too old to be doing protest marches and getting run down.
6. Don't treat people like shit.
6. Some folks don't deserve the treatment they get; others don't get the treatment they deserve. Ain't our job to fix that. Wanna play Scrabble until "Wheel" comes on?
7. Remember it's not about you.
7. Have I told you about my hip replacement? I'll make this short ....
8. It's none of you fucking business.
8. From what you've told me, sounds like something I did back in the 60s. I can see you don't want to talk about it right now.
9. Don't leave a mess
9. I made a mess. Sorry. I wish I could help clean it up but my hip is locked up.
10. Don't Whine.
10. I apologize for all the moaning. Kids don't have an appreciation of just how painful cancer and arthritis is. I hope they or their loved ones never have to learn that lesson.
The Russians have won. They have made the world a cesspool of distrust, greed, fear and hate.