Your current decade and the last one....

[forHISglory]

I just turned 60 this month. And I've been thinking about this new decade that I am entering and comparing it to my last decade of being 50. What shape am I in?

How about you? How would you compare who you were in your last decade with who you are now?

Here's what I am mulling over:
1. Physical shape: weight gained or lost, health-wise, aches and pains, energy level, flexibility, etc.
2. Mental shape: being sharp and quick, forgetfulness, fogginess, learning new things, goals, challenges, etc.
3. Emotional shape: feelings, emotions, new loves, hates, and worries, humor, stress, etc.
4. Spiritual shape: peace and joy quota, closer walk with God, more dependence on God, learning, meditating, prayer and Bible study amounts, etc.
5. Financial shape: debt, savings, retirement, spending patterns, etc.
6. My place in the world: Are my relationships changing? Where do I want to be at the end of this decade? What do I want to have accomplished?

I'm still working on my list, but here are some insights:
1. Physically, I'm probably in better shape now than I was in my 50s. I take time to get decent rest, whereas in my 50s I was still too caught up in my job. My weight has stabilized. It's a little more than what I want to weight, but the doctor says I'm OK. I have a pretty high energy level most of the time, and have regained the flexibility I lost. This is due for the most part of going to Curves. I am more serious about my diet now, working in more low-carb foods and more high fiber foods. Aches and pains: not bad. I think I have a bit of arthritis in my hips which acts up sometimes when the weather changes, but it's nothing to complain about. My hearing is going, but I still don't have to wear glasses or contacts.
2. Mentally, I have to work a little harder to stay sharp. I find that I must force myself to concentrate more. But I still spend a lot of time thinking (like this posting!), and reading, and discussing. I still enjoy games that make me stratagize and plot. And I still love to write. I think that still being in the teaching field helps with mental alertness. But.... I am more forgetful than I was in my 50s. I have to make more notes to myself, and keep a detailed calendar. Is this due to aging, or just that I am getting busier?
3. Emotionally, I have mellowed. Having kids at home, holding a full time job, and all the rest of life put me on edge more than once. The real mellowness came after I retired, and the real stress came just before I retired. I was trying to make the right decision then, and it wasn't easy. The passage of years has shown me that I don't need to worry as much. And the passage of hormones have ensured that!! LOL!!
4. Spiritually, I am about the same, I think. I'll have to give this more thought. I have definitely learned more in this area, but am not sure that it has made me more spiritual. I have learned some spiritual truths in a deeper way. I have learned so much more about God's exquisite timing and how He keeps His promises. I'm still a work in progress on increasing my obedience.
5. Financially, we are better off now than when I was in my 50s. We had no debt then, and no debt now, so that part isn't different. But having no kids at home has given us more money! Retiring and then working part time jobs has been a good financial step for us. We made some investment decisions that turned out to be good, at least so far. At the moment, we are not hurting for money, but on the other hand, we still have to be careful and plan ahead for things like vacation, or major purchases. I learned to be more frugal in spending and usage. I really think my attitude towards "things" has changed tremendously. I've not ever been materialistic, but now I look at things, and think of how I am more of a servant to them than they are to me.
6. My place in the world: My love for Hubby is deeper and richer than ever before. I am finding him day by day to be more handsome and fascinating. It's a delight to be married to him! My relationship with my son has come to a more mature level and that's a breath of fresh air! Ten years ago, I had no grandchildren, and now I have three. I find my place as a grandmother to be deeply satisfying, and I take great pleasure in them. I am still a daughter, but my relationship with my parents has changed quite a bit. In my early 50s, Mom and Dad were still quite active. But in the last 10 years, their health has gone downhill, and I find myself making more trips home to care for things, and we find ourselves talking about what to do with the farm when they pass on, etc. On another note, my place in the world as a teacher changed. I loved teaching and was wrapped up in it. So it was hard to retire and not consider myself as a teacher any longer. Working part time now as a teacher has helped me with this transition. I think that in 5 years or so, I might be able to give it up completely.

At the end of this decade, I will probably be an orphan, might be a widow, will more than likely be completely retired, will more than likely experience a physical slow down. I don't like to think of it, but that's reality. So I had best adopt carpe deim!

[Sassyclass]

forHISglory, I love this post. Thank you and I will have to do some serious searching and get back to you on my feelings and thoughts.

Cat

[cab54]

Well, let's see.... I'm 54, and compared to my forties...

Physical shape--My weight is not where I like it to be, but it is where it is, and I'm OK, with that. I'm too old to want a 'hot' body, I exercise for health and joy, eat intuitively, and my health is good --BP normal, no meds, feel good.

Mental shape--MUCH better than in my forties. I am SOOO glad to be over peri-menopause and into full blown menopause. If I had anything to do over again in the forties, it would be to get on a PMDD drug or some other anxiety reducing drug for that decade. I think I did myself more harm than good, trying to 'tough it out'. My memory is fair, I can still learn lots if it interests me.

Emotional shape--very similar to mental for me....much better. Calmer, more peace of mind, contented.

My place in the world (ooops, put this in the wrong spot)--I am more free now to make things for people using my skills, I have more time to 'be there' for people and my elderly parents. My sons are doing well and attaining their goals, and are happy/healthy/honorable young men. I feel as though we 'did good'.

Spiritual shape--ummmm....I am in flux, here. I believe in a higher power. But I see so much suffering out there. So much bad going on. I feel that God is angry at us or something. Maybe he's done fixing our mistakes.

Financial shape--very good, I think. DH is a financial wiz when it comes to planning and saving. I was a SAHM, and am now a SAHW, and we are doing most of the things we hoped to do at this stage of life.

By age 60, I will probably lose my dad. Mom should make it into her 80's. They are not together, divorced when I was 12. Dad was --umm-- not a good dad. He was an abusive alcoholic when I was growing up, and I have mixed feelings about him. Yet, my sisters and I can't let him live in squalor, or without food, so we help him out.

I expect I might be a grandmother by 60. My sons are not married yet, or planning families, but I can hope! LOL! They are/have been very busy getting their educations, and have dated, but nothing lasting. Even if I do become a granny, I am fairly sure my kids and their kids will live very far away. It will take some travel to be a hands-on granny.

I look forward to 60 with expectations of travel with dh, simplification of my life, more books to read, and things to knit/quilt! I want to leave my mark in my arts.

[WV_mom_of2]

Well I am only 39 so I am at the end of a decade .......

1. Physical shape: weight gained or lost, health-wise, aches and pains, energy level, flexibility, etc. I've gained a good bit of weight since my 20's. My health is worse because of the weight and my engery level sucks. I know if I lost the weight I'd be so much better. I'm working on that!

2. Mental shape: being sharp and quick, forgetfulness, fogginess, learning new things, goals, challenges, etc. I think my mental shape is still right on! No problems with that yet!

3. Emotional shape: feelings, emotions, new loves, hates, and worries, humor, stress, etc. In some ways I stress less now. When my children were small I stressed constantly about them. While I do still worry about them, I've learned to let go a little! I do stress more over bills and money now though!

4. Spiritual shape: peace and joy quota, closer walk with God, more dependence on God, learning, meditating, prayer and Bible study amounts, etc. This is about the same. I've always believed in God and spent time in prayer.

5. Financial shape: debt, savings, retirement, spending patterns, etc. We are in worse shape now then we were in our 20's. We've had alot of things happen that have caused us to be this way. I plan on it being much better in my 40's!

6. My place in the world: Are my relationships changing? Where do I want to be at the end of this decade? What do I want to have accomplished? Dh and I are finding a deeper relationship lately. The kids are older and don't need our constant attention, we can leave them home for short periods of time, etc. We just have more time for each other now. My relationship with my mom is changing too. I am becoming more of the mom and her the child in alot of ways. My sister and I are getting along better than ever as she is finally becoming more mature. My relationship with my brother is pretty much over. As I become older I find myself less willing to deal with toxic people like him.

Well my decade will be over in January. I hope to be slimmer, in better health and in better shape financially. I also hope to be coming to grips with dd's graduating high school next year and starting college. Can I handle turning 40 and my baby being a high school graduate too? Time will tell!

[kaurand554]

I'm 43 feel like I have lived a hundred of years...

I lost my parents within a year of each other in my 20's.... married, divorced remarried and widowed...

In this on-set of a new decade; I feel like I have grabbed my own life and dreams;

Physically; much work to do; the comfort eating packed on pounds (way too many)

Mentally; I am recharged; I love learning went back to school! Love it.... I almost wish this could be my career! Stimulated is wonderful, there is always something to learn around the next corner.

Spiritually; This is the demon in the past that is arising; and I have to face it! (Not to offend others) I was born and raised Catholic (my son went to catholic schools, alter boy etc..); we were not overly religious never said prayers around the table but we believed; I went through a divorce and was banned from receiving communion after I remarried. A sin; yes I know (I thought Scarlet Letter)! Before I was remarried, I went to file annulment papers and was so mortified by what they asked me to reveal about intimate relationships etc...

I believe; struggling to find out what I believe in and where I can just be who I am and truly loved by God; I have begun to believe that the true peace in live comes from being in tune with God; I just want to find out how, and if it is possible without being judged....

Mental State; I am so ready to move on.... face the world... and it feels so good to say so... and better to feel it!

Thank you for posting this question! I needed to hear it and address it!