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200 words, aging, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, growing up, health, humour, judging, laughter, life, Life's like that, looking back, memories, old, young
“To me old age is always fifteen years older than I am.” – Thomas Bailey Aldrich
“Oh man, I can’t wait till the year 2000, that’s gonna be a heck of a New Year’s party!” said the 16 year-old me. “Oh wait. I’ll be 37. Too old to party. If I’m even still alive! How sad.” That revelation ruined my day.
“Would you look at her. Geesh, 40 year-olds should NOT wear bikinis, I WON’T do that when I’m old,” said by the 25 year-old me to my best friend while sun-tanning on the shore of Paul Lake.
Fast forward to today, the 52 year-old me thinks back.
The 37 year-old me did not party in the year 2000. Not because she was too old, but because she didn’t want to.
The forty-something me continued to wear a bikini at the beach and was quite comfortable doing so. Recently my daughter posted this on her Facebook page: To get a bikini body, put on a bikini.
I guess old is mostly relative…
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
“See those two ladies sitting on the bench?” said by the 52 year-old me of the sixty-something year olds to my friend. “That’s us when we’re old!”
How old is old to you?
talktodiana 
I love love love this post, catching up here. So very funny what our young selves use to think as OLD. Im now just starting to be comfortable with who I am Diana. Not when I had a young body or long healthy hair and oodles of energy, only now at 51 I find I am content with things. Do you think its because we realise this is it we are not going to be anymore beautiful or young than this day before us? Today is all we have?
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Yes maybe Kath or maybe we just get wise enough to know that the superficial things just really don’t mean a whole whack. ❤
Diana xo
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Indeedy
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You would be surprised to find that if you let yourself get old you will. In my mind I’m no older than I was yesterday. Time is just a number.
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A good way to live Rellick! ❤
Diana xo
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Diana … I’d have to agree with Thomas Bailey Aldrich’s quote. I stopped giving out my age in the 1980s when I worked at a sledge-hammer rock-n-roll station. My station manager was 10 years younger than me, but he was very cool. The program director, however, used to egg his listeners to call a competitor and rag that guy about his age. I never felt like ‘age’ should define me or what I could or could not do.
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It’s all about what we can do together at all of our ages, don’t you think Judy? Different generations have SO much to offer each other. ❤
Diana xo
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From the ages of 3 (?) to nearly 8, I lived with my Grammy in a multi-generation household. My parents and I had our own room. We were on the same floor as an 86-year-old boarder, Mr. Musser, that I viewed to be a built-in grandfather (he was a bachelor) and a friend. Yes, we can all – at all ages – learn so much from one another. 😉
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Lovely. I remember and loved your story about Mr. Musser! ❤
Diana xo
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Thank you. Mr. Musser is the source of many happy memories. 😉
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Old is not an age to me, it’s an attitude. At this point, I don’t think I’ll ever get old. I’m way past 50, yet I dance for exercise, wearing tight leggings and tank top. I skip with my 5-year-old grandchildren and laugh my heart (and soul) out with my college friends (we just had a reunion in Long Island and talked about so many ‘verbatim’ subjects it would put a blush on most 20-year-old guys). And you know what? I’m planning on doing all this when I’m 70 and 80 too.
And I’ll not be old yet.
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Me too, you’ve inspired me! ❤
Diana xo
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No! Sixty is the new adolescence, not ‘old’!
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No. Not like! Love this comment! ❤
Diana xo
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It is a number. However last few yrs., I’ve been feeling closer to my age with loss of loved ones –father, a sister.
Not having children insulates a person a bit from the aging process: one doesn’t see the markers of growth in the next generation…until wow, someone goes to university, gets married.
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I like to make this translation of “old.” Old = wise.
How wise is Diana? Very.
xo
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Ha! Works for me Ann! ❤
Diana xo
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I’ve only met old in attitude Diana. 🙂
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(smiling) Love that Colleen! ❤
Diana xo
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Diana, I enjoyed reading your words and the comments too. Some Canadians have been asking the opposite question during the election: “How young is too young?”
Number of years don’t really mean anything as long as we’re using what we’ve got and still have a decent number of active brain cells, muscles and joints ( not meaning the ones soon to be legalized—that’s the last thing my brain needs…).
Blessings & hugs ~ Wendy
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Thanks so much Wendy. So? How do you feel about the election results? ❤
Diana xo
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I’m curious how our new PM will do. I hesitated for the first time who to vote for. Didn’t win–but I’m willing to respect the outcome of our democracy. How about you?
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I grew up in Quebec. I am a liberal at heart. ❤
Diana xo
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You must be a happy camper. 🙂 I’m a curious one.
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Mulrooney said it well, he was voted in because he wasn’t Pierre Trudeau and Cretien was voted in because he wasn’t Mulrooney and so on… We’ve had 149 years of libs then cons then libs and it’s worked out. ❤
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I agree. Democracy is good. It’s not healthy for our country to keep any one person or party in for too long. I won’t be complaining about the tax changes I heard about today. 🙂
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I think Satchel Paige said it’s mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.
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So the trick is not to mind! 😉
Diana xo
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Age is a funny concept? Amongst the indigenous they don’t worry about counting the years and so no-one knows how old anyone is! I love that idea, because we all share the same sendiment in life and that is, we feel young on the inside, but our age determines that we are not! So let’s get rid of the number and live from our true age, “our heart space”!! Great post.
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!sounds like a wonderful plan to me Karen. It would be pure hell to statistician ❤
Diana xo
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I always say I am 54 years old, I am 21 in my mind and some days 81 in body LOL Seriously I am 54 – proud of it and love who I am. You are only as old as you feel – and I thank God most days I do feel 20 – carefree and silly!
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I feel the very same way Patty. ❤
Diana xo
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Getting old is indeed an adventure – but don’t you just love adventures!
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I do!
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It depends where you stand… I thought as a teenager 40 is old…. now I see 60 as young….They say your age +15 years you regards as old…. I also say there are young 80 year old out there. I do feel young with my 54 as my inner age only says about 35 and my brain being silly like a 5 year old sometimes.. hehe
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Yes Ute, it is relative to what stage your at, I think. ❤
Diana xo
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I feel younger at 56 than I did at 21 – more at ease with myself I guess (except for my turkey neck hahaha!)
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haha You’re awesome Julie! ❤
Diana xo
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I used to think old was 30. Now that I am in my mid 50s, I’d say 70. Maybe 90.
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I totally relate Bill! ❤
Diana xo
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So true, I can definitely relate. In my teens I thought 30 was very old. Well, having passed 30 I have changed my mind! Age is just a number:)
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That it is Inger! Thank you so much for dropping by and welcome to TALKTODIANA! ❤
Diana xo
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My nan always told me that age is just a number but if we don’t care for our skin and bodies we may feel older then the number and if we do then we may feel younger then the number, she also said don’t worry about aging it is better then dying, I am 52 and I am not worried about my age I have no worries when asked how old I am I am proud of my age, I love my birthday as it means I am still alive and spending time with my family
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Wow Jo-Anne – you’re absolutely right! ❤
Diana xo
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I agree. I have been wrestling with this. Age , to me, is still just a number. I’m as old as I wanna be. Old age, however, is a state of body and what my body sometimes reminds me. I bet you still rock a bikini Diana!
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However we may feel, aging is still better than the alternative, right Andy?
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So true Di! Unless the alternative aging in Hawaii
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Good point haha!
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.. Where you can keep sporting that bikini all year long.. 🙂
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I feel young — until I try to do too much or look in the mirror! haha 😉
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Ha – I’ve been shocked at times when I catch my reflection in a mirror Jennifer! ❤
Diana xo
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Especially first thing in the morning!
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I know! I have 25 watt bulbs in my bathroom…
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Ha ha! I use the dimmer. 🙂
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haha too funny!
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I feel young inside, Diana, but this youthfulness often struggles with the growing limitations of the body. I try always to allow the dialogue between the two to be compassionate and understanding. I think I do quite well in this. 🙂
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Ahh good one Don – I need to learn the compassionate part, I think. ❤
Diana xo
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Great reflections Diana! I’m with Thomas on this one 😀
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haha me too Val – loved the quote immediately! ❤
Diana xo
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When you stop growing or evolving you start devolving… This is growing old and or effectively dying….
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A great perspective Mary! Reminds me of that quote: We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing… ❤
Diana xo
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I’m old! 😮
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Don’t give into it Smitty!! ❤
Diana xo
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Oh, I don’t; I embrace it! 😀
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Perfect!
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I don’t feel old at 59. I look at my parents though and know they’re old. Though they do so much still– they’re very aware of what they’re not doing and missing. I know I’m lucky to have them into old age and fear how hard it will be when they’re not around anymore. They are old.
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Yes, I feel the same way about my parents Lisa. I wonder what our kids think of our age?? ❤
Diana xo
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It’s a sliding scale, Diana. The student mantra was “Never trust anyone over 30”. Can you imagine ? My kids are at or nearing 30, and I still see them as babies.☺ I know many young folk who are jaded and old in their demeanor, and many 60-80 year olds who are young at heart. I pick the latter. 💕
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It’s all in one’s attitude, isn’t it Van? ❤
Diana xo
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☺ For sure ☺
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I’m still as young as I choose to feel. Occasionally my legs disagree. 🙂
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Yes Graham, for me it’s my knees… ❤
Diana xo
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I’m glad to say that my niece is healthy but must get some reading glasses. 😀
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This reminds me of the Sinatra song:
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Yes! A perfect song Don! ❤
Diana xo
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Old isn’t a number, but rather a physical state of decline and decay due to damaged health. I know 50-year-olds who are old, and 83-year-olds who are young.
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Interesting perspective Tracy! ❤
Diana xo
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I’m with Thomas Bailey Aldrich! Inside I often see myself as youthful and have to reality check myself back to age 56!
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I know Ian, me too – I feel young! ❤
Diana xo
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