From kenju, about aging...

kenju at Just Ask Judy recommended Ronni Bennett's weblog and I liked a recent post there on aging. Bennett shared some thoughts from the book What Are Old People For? by Dr. William H. Thomas:

"The shadow of doubt appears only tentatively and intermittently at first. Gradually there emerges an understanding that one’s family, while beloved in every way, is very much like millions of other families.

Slowly the adult begins to understand that his or her work, while undoubtedly important, is very much like the work being done by millions of other people.

These uncomfortable insights are slowly and painfully transformed into a desire to set aside the world of "have to do" in order to begin exploring the mysteries that cloak the world of "want to do."

She then quotes Lars Tornstam's list of changes indicative of a transition from middle age to - the next age - the age we don't talk about any more:

The Self Self-confrontation of good and bad aspects Decrease in self-centeredness Rediscovery of childhood Relationships Increased need for solitude Increased distinction between the self and one’s role Less acquisitiveness Decreased interest in toeing the line of social norms Greater reluctance to give advice Cosmic Insights Blurring of boundaries within time and space Increased interest in one’s personal family history Receding of the fear of death Renewed interest in nature and the world around us

Of the things on this list, well, OK, I haven't rediscovered childhood (that sounds quite scary), and I still very much like to give advice, but otherwise I'm there. Renewed interest in nature: no wonder I keep wanting to write about the mad activity in my bluebird house.

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