10 Commandments for the Over-50s

1. Act and behave your age

Face and accept the reality of getting old, its consequences, and the limitations which growing old brings. Quit fooling yourself by trying to look like you were in your youth.


2. Move on

Focus on enjoying people and not on indulging in/or accumulating material things. Enjoy life and meet new people. Do the things you have always wanted to do but was unable to do so. Follow your dream and your hearts' desire.


3. Plan to spend whatever you have saved

You deserve to enjoy it and the few healthy years you have left. Travel if you can afford it. Don't leave anything for your children or loved ones to quarrel about. By leaving anything, you may cause even more trouble when you are gone.


4. Live in the present

Live in the here and now, not in the yesterdays and tomorrows. It is only today that you can handle. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may not even happen.


5. Spoil your grandchildren

Enjoy and spoil your grandchildren (if you are blessed with any) but don't be their full-time baby sitter. You have no moral obligation to take care of them. Don't have any guilt feelings about refusing to babysit anyone's kids, including your own grandkids. Your parental obligation is to your children. After you have raised them into responsible adults, your duties of childrearing and babysitting are finished. Let your children raise their own offspring.


6. Accept your health

Enjoy whatever your health can allow. Accept your physical weakness, sickness, limitations and other physical pains. It is a part of the ageing process.


7. Retire

Enjoy what you are and what you have right now. Stop working hard for what you do not have. If you do not have them, it's probably too late.


8. Love yourself

Accept yourself for what and who you are. People, who truly love you, love you for yourself and not for what you have or for what you can give them. Anyone who loves you for what you have will just give you misery.


9. Forgive and forget

Forgive and forget all those who have wronged you. Forgive yourself and others. Forget the slights, hurts, and misfortunes of yesterday. Look towards the future. Enjoy peace of mind and soul.


10. Befriend death

Don't be afraid of death. It's a natural part of the cycle of life. Death is the beginning of a new and better life. So, prepare yourself not for death but for a new life.