Senior to Senior: Cranky Old Folks

I sat in the parking lot of a local grocery store and watched; besides the young people who think they are impervious to rules, regulations, and disease, it is “old” men who are not paying attention to CDC recommendations. While not gender specific, the term “cranky old man” fits into this picture, and while women can be cranky too, it is not quite as obvious. Still, there are no age or gender limits to thoughtless behavior. Crankiness often goes with the territory. When you reach a certain age everything in your life is in a state of flux, and everyday activities become challenging. Decreased hearing and dimming vision are bad enough, but when you don’t even like the way you look, it becomes difficult to take on a changing world. What’s not to fuss about? So, have you allowed yourself to become a crotchety hypercritical senior? Test your tolerance: is the music too loud, the cars too fast, and the service always too slow…do you find everything about “modern life” annoying? When did it become easier to criticize than to stand up and make a difference? How about picking one thing that annoys you, and do something about it. You can protest if you want to chance getting trampled, or you can do something a little more civilized. You can could support your favorite political candidate, or volunteer for an organization that you feel does a particularly good job. Now is not the time for naysayers. If you read the opinion page of the local newspapers you may have noticed that opinions expressed are often one-sided, misinformed, and hardly ever positive. You either nod your head in agreement or you shake your head in disbelief. When you think about “cranky old people” words such as humor, enthusiasm and a sense of purpose seldom come to mind. Instead you see your grandfather or your father; a curmudgeonly elder expounding on declining community values. Yes, it is easier to criticize than to step up and make a difference, but “modern seniors” are up to the task. You can make a difference; now is the time.