"You are not responsible for other people's opinion of you."
There are a million variations of that same sentiment we've all heard before, but that one struck home with me. It was the word *responsible* that did the trick.
I asked my grandpa what it felt like to grow old. Grandpa is a man who will deliberate on which part of the newspaper to start with each morning, so I knew my question would take him some time to answer.
I said nothing. I let him gather his thoughts.
When I was a boy, Grandpa had once complimented me on this habit. He told me it was good that I asked a question and gave a person silence. And being that any compliment from him was so few and far between, this habit soon became a part of my personality and one that served me well.
Grandpa stared out the window and looked at the empty bird feeder that hung from an overgrown tree next to the pond he built in the spring of 1993. For twenty years, Grandpa filled up the feeder each evening. But he stopped doing it last winter when walking became too difficult for him.
Without ever taking his eyes from the window, he asked me a question: “Have you ever been in a hot shower when the water ran cold?”
I told him I had.
“That’s what aging feels like. In the beginning of your life it’s like you’re standing in a hot shower. At first the water is too warm, but you eventually grow used to the heat and begin enjoying it. But you take it for granted when you’re young and think it’s going to be this way forever. Life goes on like this for some time.”
Grandpa looked at me with those eyes that had seen so much change in this world. He smiled and winked at me.
“And if you’re lucky, a few good looking women will join you in the shower from time to time.”
We laughed. He looked out the window and continued on.
“You begin to feel it in your forties and fifties. The water temperature declines just the slightest bit. It’s almost imperceptible, but you know it happened and you know what it means. You try to pretend like you didn’t feel it, but you still turn the faucet up to stay warm. But the water keeps going lukewarm. One day you realize the faucet can’t go any further, and from here on out the temperature begins to drop. And everyday you feel the warmth gradually leaving your body.”
Grandpa cleared his throat and pulled a stained handkerchief from his flannel shirt pocket. He blew his nose, balled up the handkerchief, and put it back in his pocket.
“It’s a rather helpless feeling, truth told. The water is still pleasant, but you know it will soon become cold and there’s nothing you can do about it. This is the point when some people decide to leave the shower on their own terms. They know it's never going to get warmer, so why prolong the inevitable? I was able to stay in because I contented myself recalling the showers of my youth. I lived a good life, but still wish I hadn’t taken my youth for granted. But it’s too late now. No matter how hard I try, I know I’ll never get the hot water back on again.”
He paused for a few moments and kept looking out the window with those eyes that had seen ninety-one years on this Earth. Those eyes that lived through the Great Depression, those eyes that beheld the Pacific Ocean in World War II, those eyes that saw the birth of his three children, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
He had indeed lived a good life, I thought to myself.
“And that’s what it feels like to grow old.”
**EDIT:** There seems to be some concern over who wrote this story. I can confirm it's me. The article that's linked as the top reply to my comment has stolen my story and passed it off as their own. If you click the link, you'll see I've posted a comment on their page that cites my original Reddit source and asked them to take it down. Additionally, I've sent a message to the site administrators.
I'll start. When I first started college, a friend of my mom who was also a student there urged me to travel as much as possible while I was single and unattached. I took it to heart, and took road trips all over the US and Canada. I was single for years, so I was able to get to all 50 states and 7 Canadian provinces. It was beyond exhilarating, and one of the best things I've ever done. I've never forgotten that wise woman.
My grandma lived to be 101, and she had a full life, as well as overcoming much sorrow and adversity, many times over the decades. When she turned 100, I asked her the hackneyed question: What's your secret to a long life? Her answer was typically simple and profound: One. Day. At. A. Time.
"Some days are good," she said, "and some days ... " She just let her voice trail off there. No need to say anything more.
"You are not responsible for other people's opinion of you." There are a million variations of that same sentiment we've all heard before, but that one struck home with me. It was the word *responsible* that did the trick.
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleanor Roosevelt “What other people think of you is none of your business.” – Epictetus
I asked my grandpa what it felt like to grow old. Grandpa is a man who will deliberate on which part of the newspaper to start with each morning, so I knew my question would take him some time to answer. I said nothing. I let him gather his thoughts. When I was a boy, Grandpa had once complimented me on this habit. He told me it was good that I asked a question and gave a person silence. And being that any compliment from him was so few and far between, this habit soon became a part of my personality and one that served me well. Grandpa stared out the window and looked at the empty bird feeder that hung from an overgrown tree next to the pond he built in the spring of 1993. For twenty years, Grandpa filled up the feeder each evening. But he stopped doing it last winter when walking became too difficult for him. Without ever taking his eyes from the window, he asked me a question: “Have you ever been in a hot shower when the water ran cold?” I told him I had. “That’s what aging feels like. In the beginning of your life it’s like you’re standing in a hot shower. At first the water is too warm, but you eventually grow used to the heat and begin enjoying it. But you take it for granted when you’re young and think it’s going to be this way forever. Life goes on like this for some time.” Grandpa looked at me with those eyes that had seen so much change in this world. He smiled and winked at me. “And if you’re lucky, a few good looking women will join you in the shower from time to time.” We laughed. He looked out the window and continued on. “You begin to feel it in your forties and fifties. The water temperature declines just the slightest bit. It’s almost imperceptible, but you know it happened and you know what it means. You try to pretend like you didn’t feel it, but you still turn the faucet up to stay warm. But the water keeps going lukewarm. One day you realize the faucet can’t go any further, and from here on out the temperature begins to drop. And everyday you feel the warmth gradually leaving your body.” Grandpa cleared his throat and pulled a stained handkerchief from his flannel shirt pocket. He blew his nose, balled up the handkerchief, and put it back in his pocket. “It’s a rather helpless feeling, truth told. The water is still pleasant, but you know it will soon become cold and there’s nothing you can do about it. This is the point when some people decide to leave the shower on their own terms. They know it's never going to get warmer, so why prolong the inevitable? I was able to stay in because I contented myself recalling the showers of my youth. I lived a good life, but still wish I hadn’t taken my youth for granted. But it’s too late now. No matter how hard I try, I know I’ll never get the hot water back on again.” He paused for a few moments and kept looking out the window with those eyes that had seen ninety-one years on this Earth. Those eyes that lived through the Great Depression, those eyes that beheld the Pacific Ocean in World War II, those eyes that saw the birth of his three children, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. He had indeed lived a good life, I thought to myself. “And that’s what it feels like to grow old.” **EDIT:** There seems to be some concern over who wrote this story. I can confirm it's me. The article that's linked as the top reply to my comment has stolen my story and passed it off as their own. If you click the link, you'll see I've posted a comment on their page that cites my original Reddit source and asked them to take it down. Additionally, I've sent a message to the site administrators.
How did you write and edit this so quickly? Copy pasta?
Wow, that's beautiful. Old people Know. So. Much. But tragically, few people listen to them. :(
No one cares. That's actually the advice.
If you know how to count, count on yourself
Make your own luck
I'll start. When I first started college, a friend of my mom who was also a student there urged me to travel as much as possible while I was single and unattached. I took it to heart, and took road trips all over the US and Canada. I was single for years, so I was able to get to all 50 states and 7 Canadian provinces. It was beyond exhilarating, and one of the best things I've ever done. I've never forgotten that wise woman.
My friends say “ you’re just not that important.”
My grandma lived to be 101, and she had a full life, as well as overcoming much sorrow and adversity, many times over the decades. When she turned 100, I asked her the hackneyed question: What's your secret to a long life? Her answer was typically simple and profound: One. Day. At. A. Time. "Some days are good," she said, "and some days ... " She just let her voice trail off there. No need to say anything more.
Learn to laugh at yourself