A touching message from an old woman to all those who are afraid of old age

Many people are afraid of old age. Both men and women. Youth today has been elevated to a cult, and therefore, fearing to lose it, people resort to all sorts of tricks and tricks, which then spoil their golden years of wisdom and old age. But in this one-sided crowd, such thoughts are especially surprising and delightful. This letter was written by American Phyllis Schlossberg to Vladimir Posner.

So, old age is a gift...

“Not long ago, one young girl came up to me with the question: “What is it like to be old?” I thought in confusion and couldn’t find what to answer her, because I didn’t think about it and didn’t consider myself old. The girl was also embarrassed by my confusion, but I thanked her, saying that the question was interesting. And that as soon as I find the answer to it, I will immediately tell her. And then the realization suddenly came to me that old age is a gift.

Today I am the person I always wanted to be. No, don’t think that all my life I’ve only strived for wrinkles, spots on my skin and a saggy butt. Often, when I look in the mirror, I am perplexed about the reflection in it. But these experiences fade very quickly. Because I would never, for any price, agree to give up my wonderful family and my close friends for dark hair and a flat stomach! I noticed that as I got older, I became kinder and more forgiving towards people. And I became my own friend. I no longer eat myself for extra cookies, for a purchased garden figurine, which in general I do not need, but which decorates my garden. Over the years, I have seen many friends and acquaintances who left this world without receiving the gift of old age. And who cares if I read until four in the morning and sleep until noon?

Old age is freedom. You can dance with yourself to the amazing records of my youth, you can cry over the faded love that once was. You can go to the beach without being embarrassed by your body, and, if you want, you can throw yourself straight into the waves of the ocean, despite the pitying looks from young creatures dressed (undressed?) in bikinis. But they will also grow old. Inevitably. Sometimes “girl memory” overtakes me, but I am fully aware that not all things need to be remembered. Only important ones. Over the years, my heart has been broken more than once. And how can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when your beloved dog is hit by a car? But this is our strength. Eyes that have never cried cannot be beautiful. A sterile heart cannot be alive and loving.

Fate blessed me by allowing me to live to see gray hair, to the time when my youthful laughter was forever imprinted in deep furrows on my face. Because many, many people died early, young or not yet old, but not young either. I can now speak sincerely and truthfully: “yes, yes, no, no.” The older you are, and even older, the less you care about other people's opinions. The less you doubt and the less often (after so many trips) you make mistakes! So, dear young girl. I'll tell you this: I like being old. Old age has freed me. I like the person I have become. I won't live forever, but while I'm here, I won't waste time worrying about what could have happened but didn't, I won't worry about what might still happen. And I will eat sweets on the third day every single day!”