Growing Old

[Guest guest]

Growing Old

The other day a young person asked me how I felt about

being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of

myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, she was

immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was

an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and

let her know.

Old Age, I decided, is a gift.

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the

person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body!

I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the

baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am

taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror

(who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over

those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful

life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter

belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself,

and less critical of myself. I've become my own

friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra

cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that

silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so

avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat,

to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many

dear friends leave this world too soon; before they

understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on

the computer until 4 a.m. and sleep until noon?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of

the 50's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep

over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched

over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with

abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances

from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again,

some of life is just as well forgotten. And I

eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How

can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or

when a child suffers, or even when a beloved pet gets

hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us

strength and understanding and compassion. A heart

never broken is pristine and sterile and will never

know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my

hair turn gray, and to have my youthful laughs be

forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many

have never laughed, and so many have died before their

hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You

care less about what other people think. I don't

question myself anymore. I've even earned the right

to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has

set me free. I like the person I have become. I am

not going to live forever, but while I am still here,

I will not waste time lamenting what could have been,

or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat

dessert every single day.

Author Unknown

[Guest guest]

I love that saying about getting old. I always traveled and enjoyed my life until BA. I took for granted how healthy I was and was not happy with my body after kids. I think after explant I will never look at my breast again, I don't even want to see them. I am sick of being sick... I agree we need to grow old gracefully. If I can ever get back to normal and travel to take pictures again I will feel blessed. I pray to God that if I live to see explant and get well I will never want boobs again. I should have followed my gut and never got them and been happy with what God gave me. I would always think well God didn't give me these boobs, my kids did. I disagree with my every though now. I am gonna be sickened by my new boob scars and I may never be able to even look nor stomach them. I am scared to death to put it mildly. It is something I have no choice to do, in hopes to get well. If I do get well I will never take my health for granted, enjoy my life, because you are right life is short.

Donna

[Guest guest]

Donna,

Please don't stress over explant, or what you will

look like! . . . You should look great - just smaller.

The scars will fade in time until you'll have to look

really hard to find them. . .

Lots of people have scars from various health problems

.. . . You might consider them your battle scars of

life! . . .

Look at some of the pictures post-explant . . . most

of them are taken relatively soon after explant . . .

Healing continues for a long time after that!

Hugs and prayers,

Rogene

--- BSBanshee1@... wrote:

> I love that saying about getting old. I always

> traveled and enjoyed my life

> until BA. I took for granted how healthy I was and

> was not happy with my body

> after kids. I think after explant I will never look

> at my breast again, I

> don't even want to see them. I am sick of being

> sick... I agree we need to

> grow old gracefully. If I can ever get back to

> normal and travel to take

> pictures again I will feel blessed. I pray to God

> that if I live to see explant and

> get well I will never want boobs again. I should

> have followed my gut and

> never got them and been happy with what God gave me.

> I would always think well

> God didn't give me these boobs, my kids did. I

> disagree with my every though

> now. I am gonna be sickened by my new boob scars

> and I may never be able to

> even look nor stomach them. I am scared to death to

> put it mildly. It is

> something I have no choice to do, in hopes to get

> well. If I do get well I will

> never take my health for granted, enjoy my life,

> because you are right life is

> short.

>

> Donna

>

[Guest guest]

have you ladys check out www.explantation.com the stories helped me alot.

god bless you all michele

From: Rogene S <saxony01@...>Reply- To: Subject: Re: Growing OldDate: Thu, 4 May 2006 09:36:59 -0700 (PDT)Donna,Please don't stress over explant, or what you willlook like! . . . You should look great - just smaller.The scars will fade in time until you'll have to lookreally hard to find them. . . Lots of people have scars from various health problems. . . You might consider them your battle scars oflife! . . . Look at some of the pictures post-explant . . . mostof them are taken relatively soon after explant . . .Healing continues for a long time after that!Hugs and prayers,Rogene--- BSBanshee1@... wrote:> I love that saying about getting old. I always> traveled and enjoyed my life > until BA. I took for granted how healthy I was and> was not happy with my body > after kids. I think after explant I will never look> at my breast again, I > don't even want to see them. I am sick of being> sick... I agree we need to > grow old gracefully. If I can ever get back to> normal and travel to take > pictures again I will feel blessed. I pray to God> that if I live to see explant and > get well I will never want boobs again. I should> have followed my gut and > never got them and been happy with what God gave me.> I would always think well > God didn't give me these boobs, my kids did. I> disagree with my every though > now. I am gonna be sickened by my new boob scars> and I may never be able to > even look nor stomach them. I am scared to death to> put it mildly. It is > something I have no choice to do, in hopes to get> well. If I do get well I will > never take my health for granted, enjoy my life,> because you are right life is > short.> > Donna> Opinions expressed are NOT meant to take the place of advice given by licensed health care professionals. Consult your physician or licensed health care professional before commencing any medical treatment. "Do not let either the medical authorities or the politicians mislead you. Find out what the facts are, and make your own decisions about how to live a happy life and how to work for a better world." - Linus ing, two-time Nobel Prize Winner (1954, Chemistry; 1963, Peace)See our photos website! Enter "implants" for access at this link:http://.shutterfly.com/action/

[Guest guest]

It is funny Rogene, I have always thought of my stretch marks from pregnancy as "battle scars". I have alot of them. I have been so embarrassed of them, but this is another thing I cannot change. After my hubby and I got married a little over two years ago, he told me he loves my "beauty marks." They are part of who I am, they represent a part of me he loves about me....I am a good mother. I haven't looked at my stretch marks the same way. I have not been real concerned about my explant scars, even thought they are bigger then my implant ones. I know it isn't such a big deal to Randy. It is funny how things can change you. LRogene S <saxony01@...> wrote: Donna,Please don't stress over explant,

or what you willlook like! . . . You should look great - just smaller.The scars will fade in time until you'll have to lookreally hard to find them. . . Lots of people have scars from various health problems. . . You might consider them your battle scars oflife! . . . Look at some of the pictures post-explant . . . mostof them are taken relatively soon after explant . . .Healing continues for a long time after that!Hugs and prayers,Rogene--- BSBanshee1@... wrote:> I love that saying about getting old. I always> traveled and enjoyed my life > until BA. I took for granted how healthy I was and> was not happy with my body > after kids. I think after explant I will never look> at my breast again, I > don't even want to see them. I am sick of being> sick... I agree we need to > grow old gracefully. If I

can ever get back to> normal and travel to take > pictures again I will feel blessed. I pray to God> that if I live to see explant and > get well I will never want boobs again. I should> have followed my gut and > never got them and been happy with what God gave me.> I would always think well > God didn't give me these boobs, my kids did. I> disagree with my every though > now. I am gonna be sickened by my new boob scars> and I may never be able to > even look nor stomach them. I am scared to death to> put it mildly. It is > something I have no choice to do, in hopes to get> well. If I do get well I will > never take my health for granted, enjoy my life,> because you are right life is > short.> > Donna>

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[Guest guest]

. . .

I continue to be more and more impressed at how

wonderful your husband is! . . . Despite all the

problems you've had with your implants, God is

blessing you!

Hugs,

Rogene