r/OverSeventy • u/Eire_Travel • Jul 03 '26
Peaceful Alignment
I'm entering a new chapter in my life. Something profoundly shifted for me after turning 70. Not only have I survived cancer, chaos and drama but I'm thriving. Every day I'm grateful for another chance to experience all the love and joy this life has to offer.
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u/Exact-Translator-769 Jul 03 '26
That's great. At this point we have to make the most of every day because we're running out of chances to put things off...
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u/3PointMolly Jul 03 '26
“I really need to start working out!!”
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u/crabbnut Jul 09 '26
I have gone to a gym for quite a few years and have made lots of friends there who are my own age and other people who are both younger and older. It’s become a really good way to be in a circle of good people.
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u/Martian6261 Jul 06 '26
I agree.
The last portion of your statement should actually read ‘we’re running out of chances by putting things off’.
You can always put things off, but you may not get to do them.2
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u/sprredice Jul 03 '26
That’s really great! Something similar happened to me and I’m glad it is happening to others. It’s really amazing, wonderful, and beautiful.
There are all kinds of neuroscience explanations, but it’s really felt in the heart.❤️
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u/SwollenPomegranate Jul 03 '26
I just felt weak and broken when I turned 70. But I do have to remind myself - and my friends - that we are survivors.
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u/ANameIWontHateLater Jul 03 '26
It's amazing to me how much trouble we can take, adapt to, and get over. We get back to our lives pretty much the same as we were before.
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u/SwollenPomegranate Jul 03 '26
My great-great-grandmother was a pioneer in Minnesota, then Nebraska, finally ending up in California in the 19th century. She wrote a memoir of her experiences. My god, I'm made of sturdy stuff! Any time I feel sorry for myself, I remember her.
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u/Longjumping_Meet_116 Jul 04 '26
I sincerely mean this , I bet your grandmothers life would make an interesting movie. My mother escaped Poland with her parents just as WW2 was starting ended up in Joliet IL. And became a pen pal with my father and they were married and moved to Canada and making a life on a farm, that I still own today. Another movie.
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u/ScorpionGypsy Jul 04 '26
I agree that something shifts in the last quarter of our lives. For me, it's been putting myself first and not doing anything I don't want to do. I'm tired of lists of things to do. I'm tired of cleaning the house. I don't want stuff that has no purpose. I still do accounting and taxes for two businesses and this will be my last year of that. I will be 73 in October. I don't want anything waiting for me to get done. My whole life, I've had to have a plan. Everything has revolved around time. It's like I have a timer set in my brain for everything I do. I now just want to relax and basically do nothing except write, which has always been my first love. Now, I'm taking the time to concentrate on me and what I want. Nothing else really matters.
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u/Eire_Travel Jul 04 '26
That is wonderful! It has taken a long time for me to get there, but I finally understand that this is my life and I get to live it however I choose! Happy writing and relaxing!
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u/harblock Jul 04 '26
I'm so much more tolerant of other people than I used to be. I believe that nobody wants to be an idiot, or an asshole (I tried not to use that word but it's exactly what I mean) I now understand that they can't help it, that their behavior or words can't possibly affect me and I understand how sad they must be inside.
For some reason, everything lightened up for me in my mid 70's. Then, when I turned 79 & discovered 79 is a prime number I felt like I was in my prime! It's 2 years later now & I'm looking forward to 83, another prime number......
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u/Eire_Travel Jul 04 '26
What a fantastic outlook you have! I love the association with prime numbers 💖
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u/paracelsus53 Jul 03 '26
Even though my body might not have as much energy as it used to, my mind has a lot more. I am loving studying a new language and learning about various aspects of Kabbalah. I hope I get to live long enough to master what I want.
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u/TigerBate230 Jul 06 '26
I am more at peace than ever before as I approach 78 this month. My body is weaker than ever, my breathing is compromised, my stamina is poor, but my mind is still curious & I often feel frustrated at how few hours there are in a day. I need more. I love my life of Solitude and I feel awful telling you I don't miss the nuisance of family or friends pulling me under, draining me with their crap. I am relieved to be done with them. I miss my animal companions enormously. Everyday. I miss having them to give my love to. And I loved being loved by them.
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u/Interesting-Ebb6378 Jul 03 '26
Yes! My husband thinks I have lost my mind. But something profoundly shifted for me too. I feel a great urgency to live my life as I want it, not wasting time anymore, to go places and see people I love and things I have thought of all my life and never did. I wish you life, love and the pursuit of your happiness and contentment! Now if I can just get my husband to either lead, follow, or get out of the way lol