I love this month’s topic! The way to stay young is to have friends at every generational level. Last August I met my husbands granddaughter’s boyfriend. I later learned that the boyfriend had made the comment that, “Amber’s Grandma is hot.” Talk about a compliment!! I have always been blessed to have friends in every generation. I keep those friends by being truly interested in what they are doing. Today I had a great experience with my Rotary Club. I volunteered to serve on our scholarship committee and helped interview the final four candidates. Talk about neat kids!! I also invited a young lady who just turned forty to lunch next week because I sensed that she is very frustrated with her career. It’s all about taking risk in building relationships. It is very easy to focus on ourselves as we grow older. We don’t always feel the best, and it becomes more difficult to handle stress. Therefore, if we focus on others, we will forget about ourselves. Having friends from multiple generations makes life worth living.
Friends of All Ages by Marilyn Arnold
March 26, 2013 by ElderChicks
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I couldn’t agree more, Marilyn. When I moved to a new town in my mid-50s, I looked about 10 years younger and a group of 40-somethings at my spiritual fellowship invited me to share lunch that first Sunday. They became my circle of friends in that town and kept me young at heart and on the go when I could have been depressed by my recent divorce. I am still in touch with some of them and although they often want advice on the 50-something problems they are now encountering, they also continue to nudge me to stretch myself where my age-peers are more content to maintain their status quo.
In my new home now, I am friends with my daughter’s peer group and enjoy their energy and fun take on life even though they are hardworking young moms.
Having a supportive circle of friends is important for all of us, but the variety matters too – otherwise we tend to get stuck in one perspective on life and love.
Most of my friends are all in their 30’s and 40’s –I actually don’t know anyone my own age or even close–there are a few people I associate with in their 50’s, I am very very youthful, fit and look much younger than my age so there is some resentment from women my own age which I find unpleasant. In addition men my own age are looking for girls in their 30’s so that is not an option. I enjoy younger men but not interested in them romantically. However my life is enriched by being with people of all ages and I especially love children 10 and under!
Funny that you spoke, Marilyn, of having younger friends, and that I read your entry on a day when the following (unrelated) women are going to dinner together: ages 66, 64, 35, 52, and 70. Average age=about 57.5. It seems age has never entered into my choice of friends, as many are over 90! It DOES keep one from getting “stuck in one perspective on life and love.” So true…