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    Retirement Lane: How to Celebrate Life After 60
    Retirement Lane: How to Celebrate Life After 60
    Retirement Lane: How to Celebrate Life After 60
    Ebook154 pages1 hour

    Retirement Lane: How to Celebrate Life After 60

    By Lillian Rhoades

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    About this ebook

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, every day over 78 million Americans turn 60. "How to Celebrate Life After 60" focuses on the lifestyle choices, attitude adjustments and credible solutions for this growing population known as baby boomers.

    With longevity on the rise, how does one celebrate aging? How can we discover gold in the golden years? Answers to these questions and others are clearly spelled out with topics such as: handling self-pity, setting goals despite physical disabilities, accepting change, and living without regret.

    "How to Celebrate Life After 60" provides a realistic view of the down side to aging and how to overcome the obstacles that living longer presents. It points the way to be 60 and better. The book also demonstrates the author's full grasp of the positive side to aging without any intent to paint a rosy picture.

    A "Writer's Voice" section follows each chapter which includes quotes from well known writers. the "Writer's Voice" adds an inspirational touch to this guide for living and enriches the chapter topic.

    Also included is a chapter review at the end of the book in the form of a word game designed to stimulate, entertain, and remind the reader of key points from each chapter. Answers to the word game are listed separately.

    As the population ages, the demand for books addressing the needs of this growing demographic will continue to expand. With a focus on aging from a biblical perspective, "How to Celebrate Life After 60" provides nine principles for aging successfully regardless of religious beliefs or affiliations.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLillian Rhoades
    Release dateOct 10, 2012
    ISBN9781301223008
    Retirement Lane: How to Celebrate Life After 60

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      Book preview

      Retirement Lane - Lillian Rhoades

      How to Celebrate Life After 60

      Aging From a Biblical Perspective

      Lillian Rhoades

      ———

      This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

      ———

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright © 2010 by Lillian Rhoades.

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication

      may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,

      or transmitted by any means without the

      written permission from the author.

      ISBN: 978-1301223008

      Don’t be bashful. Bite in. Life is ready and ripe NOW whenever you are.

      —Tim Hansel

      CONTENTS

      Starting Point

      Acknowledgments

      Foreword

      Chapter 1: Golden Years Have Silver Linings

      Chapter 2: Goals Make Great Life Preservers

      Chapter 3: It’s Always too Soon to Quit

      Chapter 4: Give Change a Chance

      Chapter 5: Yes We Can, Yes He Can

      Chapter 6: Rekindle Your Faith

      Chapter 7: Our Mistakes: A Bridge to Discovery

      Chapter 8: Until the Last Petal Falls

      Chapter 9: A Time to Die

      Reflections

      Chapter Review

      STARTING POINT

      On course we’re aging, more like fine wine than rotten grapes; not that we claim exclusive rights to aging just because we are over 60. It really doesn’t matter how old we are, if we’re breathing, we’re aging. Don’t expect anyone under twenty-one to own up to it, but that’s okay. We know what they have yet to discover. They may look younger, but no one grows younger. The aging process leaves none behind.

      So, here we are, well along in years with few clues as to what lies ahead. The future hugs our horizon, but we only see a partial landscape. What we see we like. The future looks bright for our generation. With improved health care and alternate life-style choices, many older adults live with the same joie de vivre as younger adults. Today, there’s no need to settle for first base while millions of older Americans are making home runs long after youthfulness strikes out.

      To family and friends who demonstrate in many wonderful, creative ways that life remains a work in progress, I urge you to stay in the game until the last inning. Be God’s poster man or woman for your generation. Even to your old age, He will not fail you. That’s His promise to you.

      When I think of you, I think of many senior citizens who will read When Youth Fades. May they find the courage to bloom in their senior years as you have in yours.

      O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now, also when I am old and gray headed, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation and Your power to everyone who is to come (Psa. 71:17.18).

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      I will always be grateful to…

      "Ma," who laid the foundation for my faith, and planted words of wisdom that keeps blooming.

      My sister, Geri, who encouraged me to, just do it.

      Sharon Elliot, for her inspiration and dedication to new authors.

      Jan Coleman, who showed me how to go from good to better the re- write way.

      Lottie, who unknowingly kept me at it, because she couldn’t wait to read my book.

      Shanta, whose ability to write creatively keeps me humble.

      Finally, to my Heavenly Father who remains a constant in every chaos.

      I dedicate this book to my sons, Tod and Shaun.

      This above all, to thy God be true.

      FOREWORD

      No one fails to see that growing old has its difficulties and heartaches. It does, indeed. But to see only the hot sands of your desert experience and miss the lovely oasis here and there (though they may be few) is to turn the latter part of your journey through life into an arid, tasteless endurance contest that makes everyone miserable.

      —Chuck Swindoll

      The numbers of older Americans who live productive and independent lives continue to show steady increase. Today, sixty is the new forty, and many Americans remain vital and active well into their nineties.

      One real estate agency found a great way to polish up the idea of aging in the following advertisement for rental apartments:

      Senior Apartments for Seniors, 55 or Better

      Right on the money! That’s what ripening in old age is all about, growing older and getting better.

      At ninety-six, Art Linkletter, the jocular former television host of People Are Funny, symbolizes that idea. He offers this advice:If you decide to retire, fill your days with your passion. Get satisfaction, create joy.¹

      Linkletter walks the talk. He really does what he tells others to do, and millions of older Americans walk in his footsteps. They defy the notion that after a certain age, it’s time to sit it out while the next generation takes over.

      Kudos go to scientists and doctors who have contributed to advances in medicine, science, modern technology, and cultural awareness that allows seniors to enjoy a vital and more active life-style for people like Linkletter and Rachel.

      Rachel,² who was a member of the church I attended, turned ninety-two several days before we unexpectedly met during a shopping trip to Wal-Mart. She looked fantastic–few wrinkles, well coifed, with shoulders as straight as a marching soldier. After a brief conversation, we moved on to finish our grocery shopping, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Rachel.

      She looked great, but there was something more. Call it serenity, an inner calm, or simply, godliness with contentment. My mother’s generation called it well preserved. Whatever it was, I wanted what she had. Here was someone I wanted to model after should God allow me to reach 90 years old. How could I make it happen?

      The desire to make it happen led me to the age-old wisdom of biblical history for answers. With a focus on aging from a biblical perspective, I came away with nine principles for aging successfully from nine golden oldies of scripture.Let me make one point before you dig in. When Youth Fades is as much about a robust mind and a healthy spirit as it is about keeping our bodies well preserved.

      Despite the tremendous medical breakthroughs that allow us to live longer, make no mistake; longevity is not immortality, and our personal experience with the aging process tells us we are not ageless. Illness and loss of independence, the forerunners to our final days soon strike. Eventually, the aging process inevitably brings us to the brink of eternity. The last two chapters show us how to get there–triumphantly!

      _____________

      1 Pelland, Maryan, Linkletter’s Secrets of Aging – Dec. 28, 2006.

      2 Not her real name.

      CHAPTER ONE

      GOLDEN YEARS HAVE SILVER LININGS

      Having a baby well past childbearing years creates no shortage of gossip and makes great headlines. In Elizabeth’s neighborhood, news of her pregnancy spread like wild fire. Tongues wagged, eyebrows peaked, and messengers scurried to spread the word: A senior member of the Synagogue is six months pregnant!

      Elizabeth’s pregnancy was the buzz around town.

      "Imagine, at her age!"

      "She must be in great shape."

      "Does she really understand the physical challenges of having a baby?"

      "Why, she must be old enough to be my grandmother!"

      Their reaction should come as no surprise. Most likely, we would have reacted in similar fashion. In fact, in recent years, word that a 66 year-old woman from Spain gave birth to twin boys caused an international stir for several weeks.

      Our response grows out of our experience. Every parent knows that keeping up with a toddler requires double duty 24/7, even with youth on their side. Most seniors breathe a big sigh of relief as they look back on those years and think about how difficult it would be to raise a child at this stage in life. Not this senior! Elizabeth breathed many sighs of happiness. Her long years of hoping for a child were over. Friends and relatives, and perhaps some of her previous detractors, rejoiced with her³ when John was born.

      Even with all the excitement surrounding John’s birth, no one could blame Elizabeth had she taken time out to get even with former, finger-pointing, tongue clackers in her community.

      "Tsk, tsk, there she is; that’s the wife of Zacharias. Too bad, he’ll never have an heir."

      Her slanderers piled it on. Elizabeth describes her public shame as, My disgrace among the people.⁴ To her credit, despite all the ridicule,⁵ she kept no record of wrongs; resentment never gained a foothold. In all the years of open disgrace, when rejection was hard to ignore, she remained upright in the sight of God (Luke 1:6).

      Perhaps you feel those are hard shoes to fill, but as you continue to read, I hope you’ll decide its worthwhile trying.

      Let’s begin with the dictionary definition for barrenness. After all, that describes Elizabeth’s physical state for most of her adult life. There are several definitions; among them is sterility, unproductive, and unfulfilled. I want to focus on the latter definition because it’s the lens through which we will view key aspects of Elizabeth’s life, and suggest three remedies for an unfulfilled life.

      Sometimes we try to hide it, but who at times has not felt spiritually unproductive and emotionally unfulfilled? Don’t be ashamed to admit it. I know I have. Sometimes it’s difficult to find a silver lining when life is just one big cloud cover.

      Perhaps, during her childless years, Elizabeth had down moments when her spiritual and emotional indicators hit an all time low. From what we read, she scheduled no sympathy sessions. Here was a woman who refused to play the self-pity game. Her words bespoke an upbeat attitude: How kind the Lord is… (Luke 1:25). "What an honor this is…" (Luke 1:47).⁶

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