Sep 25 2008
Mental States and Friendship
Being Fit Over 50 isn’t just a physical state of being. Mental well-being must be cultivated as well. It’s important to have a few really good relationships in life. In the world as we know it today, those relationships may not always be the traditional husband/wife, parent/child, girlfriends or boyfriends of past generations. Today there is lot of variety in how people choose to live their lives and the relationships that can result from those varying lifestyles. And, that’s a good thing.
I find, at this stage of life, that I am very picky about who I call “friend.” It is definitely a short list. Those people share my ideas about looking at life in broad terms, being generally accepting of people and situations around me. I’m done with narrow-minded bigotry that labels as “outsiders” anyone who doesn’t think, act, vote or dress the way I do.
That’s just one more good thing about being over 50, I guess. I know my own mind better than ever before and I am secure enough in my beliefs to let others have their own beliefs.
This open mindedness is a primary quality I look for in the people that make up my circle of friends. Some days, a good friend is all I have or all I need.
What I’ve found is that other people allow me the freedom to have these beliefs now that I’m in my 40s. Before then they would try to convert me to their more narrow vision of life. I like the skin I’m in - wish it weighed less - but I like it!