Everyone lives to experience the growth of old age. Some people may be scared of it and some may be happy with it. Prior to meeting these amazing women, I believed retirement was a time for slowing down and simply living a quiet existence. I pictured the people sitting in their chairs, watching TV and waiting for time to pass their day. I was invited to the party and my mind was blown. These ladies gave me a glimpse of the many funny times, little struggles, adventurous experiences and much laughter that would be possible when growing older. They had a life without all the glitz, but was certainly filled with courage, patience, and happiness. In each and every meeting, I learned that old isn’t old. It is just the start of a new chapter of freedom, memories, and basic pleasures that many younger people don’t seem to appreciate.
#1. Growing older is mandatory. Growing up is optional
One morning, I thought, let’s go visit retirement women’s groups, parks, community centers, libraries, coffee shops, airports, hobby groups. One morning, I thought, let’s go visit parks, community centers, libraries, coffee shops, airports, hobby groups, retirement women’s groups. I wished to know what was happening to their lives rather than assuming what it was. I took my notebook with me and I gave myself the task of listening more than I talked. Each of the women’s stories was unique, but they all had one thing in common. They had all acquired a way of smiling when life was hard. There were people with health issues. Some lived alone. Others lost their husbands or were concerned about their children. Nevertheless, they managed to make each day enjoyable. Their tales were humorous, kind and wise. I discovered that each wrinkle had been born with a memory, each gray had grown through many hard years, each laugh had lived through many hard years.
#2. I’m a classic with premium features
While listening to these women, I saw something beautiful. They never had it easy. They confessed they could not remember things, walk as fast or read with their glasses. One woman quipped at the idea of retirement was to put yesterday’s work on today’s to-do list. Yet another joked she would always carry too much food when she was traveling because she was never very confident in the food served at the airport. They were so truthful and all the people laughed. I learned that happiness in the old age doesn’t depend on having a perfect life. This comes from taking the good with the bad in life, celebrating the everyday, and laughing with those who know your path.
#3. My wrinkles are just smile lines with extra experience
My very first encounter with a woman was with Margaret, a happy 70-year-old retiree who fondly enjoyed creating handmade greeting cards. I saw a lot of paper, glue, ribbons and colored pens on her dining table. She smiled and said that retirement was great since she no longer had anyone working her to a schedule. This lady then laughed and looked at her unfinished pile of projects in her notebook from last week. She said she often lost track of what she wanted to do, but she never forgot to have fun. Once she spent hours preparing for her assignments but realized that she was searching for the same scissors that were in her hand! She was not angry, she laughed at herself. Mistakes that happened when pasting the code to the screen were a reminder that joy is a thing that increases when we stop expecting perfection from ourselves.
#4. Age is just a number
Before I left, I was asked to go for a tea with Margaret. As she chatted it was evident she had written down a list of all the small things she needed to do in a small notebook. Plans from weeks ago were put on some pages. She laughed and explained her one lesson in retirement was. No hurry then was there. If she completes a project today, great, Otherwise, it was back to tomorrow’s challenge. She shared that younger folks tend to think that being busy is being successful, but older folks know that enjoying the journey is just as important. Her calm demeanor lingered with me after she had departed from the cosy home and I would smile every time I’d think of her smile.
#5. Coffee first. Wisdom later
I met Linda some days later when I was waiting for my flight at the airport. She sat, relaxed, as people scurried towards their gates, drinking coffee. Her suitcase was tidied but she laughed at me and showed me a large bag with snacks in it. She said it took patience, comfortable shoes and extra food for every trip. Then in a hitching whisper, she told me she never made a detailed travel plan, but hardly ever followed it. When she discovered a lovely garden or an interesting little café she readily altered her plans. She had learned from retirement that memories are better than exact plans and that things will happen in unexpected ways will be the most interesting and satisfying adventures of her life.
#6. Retired from work, not from making people laugh
Linda told us some hilarious stories about travelling which had us all laughing. She was traveling to the wrong airport shuttle one day as she chatted with another retired traveler. They didn’t get angry, they spent the afternoon in a small town that they never really had to go to. Once she lost her passport and searched all of her pockets before finally finding it safely in her book. She laughed so loud, other passengers joined in laughter. She told me that old age, at times, causes forgetfulness and that calmness comes with it. The lady does not worry about all little mistakes, she only likes all the unexpected things which life offers her throughout her way.
#7. I just give my brain surprise vacations
My next date was with Susan who had recently turned seventy-fifth birthday. She would every morning stroll through the local park to feed her birds with birdseed in her pocket. She could tell the names of many, but also dozens of birds. Both greeted her with the same smile, and it was warm. When Susan retired, she got something she didn’t have when she was so busy at work, she said. Finally she had time to appreciate the little things that existed around her. She could see the flowers bloom; hear the birds singing and have a quiet morning without checking the clock every few minutes. Her joy was in moments that were simple and without cost to her, but filled her heart to the brim.
#8. My favorite exercise is laughing at my own jokes
Aging wasn’t all rosy for Susan. Knees were sometimes hurt, and going up stairs sometimes slower than before. She’s short of energy when she was younger. Nevertheless, she did not allow those difficulties to be her destiny. She was not trying to inform herself of the things she was not able to do, rather she was savoring the things she could still do. She liked to garden, read novels, bake cookies and spend time with her grandchildren. The lady felt that it was best to pass on gratitude with age as it becomes more powerful with it and that those who are older realize the value of everyday life. Hearing her made me think of being happy by being appreciative, not perfect.
#9. Old enough to know better
I went to visit one of the local knitting clubs, which met each Wednesday with retired women. The room was crammed with colorful yarn, warm laugher and lots of chat. I had thought everyone would be talking about knitting patterns, but instead, we all spoke about funny family anecdotes, our favorite recipes, our childhood memories, our travels, etc. He soon realized that his glasses were being lost every few minutes, up on top of his head. They all had done the same many times and everyone laughed. No one was being evaluated. They grew into close friends through understanding, patience and experiences together. One room I had ever walked into was one of the happiest, as it was a room of happiness.
#10. Life gets better when you stop counting birthdays and start collecting memories
Helen and others among the knitters boasted of becoming experts at forgetting. She laughed that she would come into the kitchen and just forget what she went there to do. Occasionally she tried to locate her cell phone during calls. She laughed at her grandchildren’s teasing, but was just as kind as the teasing. Helen’s outlook on life was that laughter was the best medicine, as embarrassing moments would turn to funny memories. The older she gets, she has come to understand that no one is perfect, she said. But she would not let her fears of errors undermine her and she would smile, forgive herself and move on. Her happiness made others around her happy.
#11. My patience grew with my age
Another lovely woman, Carol had retired recently and accepted the task of painting. She told me that she has always wanted to be an artist but has been busy raising children and working at full time throughout her life. With retirement, she had the chance to pursue that dream. Her initial paintings weren’t beautiful, she laughed when she viewed them. She didn’t give up, she practiced weekly. Gradually she began to gain confidence as well as competence. I am reminded by Carol that there is no time like the present to learn something new. Although age could transform our bodies, it doesn’t diminish our ability to dream, create or uncover hidden talents.
#12. Every gray hair comes with a funny story
As I met these incredible women, I noticed one thing in common with all of them: all of them had to have dealt with abuse. Each had their own problems to solve. Other women lived alone due to husbands who were killed. Others experienced health issues or could not help their families. However, none of them let sadness be their identity. They discovered friendships, hobbies, faith, travel, volunteering and daily routines to find comfort. There was a lot of laughter, they knew there’d be no time to waste worrying about life. Their stories completely altered my life forever when it comes to retirement. Rather than an age of deprivation, I started to view old age as an age of wisdom, freedom, strength, and tranquility that was waiting to be experienced.
#13. I’m vintage, valuable, and still running beautifully
The next woman I met was Grace, an eighty-year-old grandmother who loved baking. Each Friday her kitchen always reeked of freshly baked bread and homemade cookies. While she recalled how many times she had to take a deep breath to remind herself whether she had already added sugar to the recipe or not, she laughed. Rather than becoming agitated, she meticulously took the time to review and confirm all details. At times her family was her little baking experiments’ happy taste testers. Grace thought that it was just an aspect of getting older if they made a mistake. She stated that there was no one that could remember a cake this perfect but everyone could remember the laughter it gave when baking together. She had a loving, happy and warm kitchen and the family was always sharing stories and memories here.
#14. If laughter adds years to life, I’m aiming for 150
Grace was also a candid confidante of loneliness. When her husband died, it was much quieter in the house. Initially, all the rooms would recall to her the life they had lived together. The days were long some days in particular the evenings. She chose to enroll in a local senior organization and volunteer at the community center to put herself into a better frame of mind rather than being sad all of the time. There, she met new friends, who knew what her feelings were because many had lost the same thing. They supported each other during bad times and took great joy in good times. Grace taught me that healing does not mean forgetting someone. It is about learning to smile once more, and keeping lovely memories in your heart.
#15. At this age, comfort is my favorite fashion statement
This one weekend I went to a retirement picnic in my area. There I encountered girls from all backgrounds. A number of these were teachers, nurses, businessmen, artists, and housewives. Their careers had been different, but now they were together in retirement. They enjoyed eating together, simple games and laughing over stories from their childhood. One woman said by mistake she called her grandson by the name of her dog, and all laughed because they had just mixed up the names before. Nobody felt embarrassed. Rather, they embraced these little mistakes as evidence that life is much more easier when people opt to laugh rather than to worry.
#16. I may walk slower, but I still arrive with style
I observed that many of these women, who were retired, had the courage to do new things. One had begun his photographic studies when he was seventy-two. A different one had taken a dance class for beginners at the age of 78. I was shown photographs by one woman of the first flight she made after retiring. She confessed that was her main reason for being nervous before leaving for the trip: to see more. They made me think of how dreams carry on even when the years pass, just as birthdays do. At times retirement brings the time and freedom to go back to those dreams. As they built confidence in their abilities I felt it was great to see that there are no age limits to the enjoyment of learning and celebration of adventure.
#17. Smile often and nap without guilt
Not every day was easy for these women. Those that had arthritis, poor eyesight, or difficulty hearing, were a challenge. Others relied on daily medicines and frequent consultations with their physician. They confessed there were mornings it takes longer to get out of bed. However, they did not let those setbacks take away their joy. They changed their schedules, took assistance when necessary, and they embraced each positive accomplishment. The small victory was a stroll around the neighborhood. The ability to complete a crossword puzzle was added as an achievement. An afternoon with friends is a gift that is cherished. They gave me the example that strength is not always physical and showed me that people can be strong with a positive outlook. True strength is the choosing of hope in the face of difficulty in life sometimes.
#18. I’ve earned every laugh line on this face
I talked with a number of women one afternoon about what retirement meant to them. They had answers, and they were simple, but they were powerful. One said that retirement was a time of finally being able to enjoy breakfast without watching the clock. One woman said that though retirement meant making long lists of things to do, she was happy to complete half. One said: “Retirement isn’t sitting on the bar stool drinking a few beers. It was a matter of deciding what was truly important on a day-by-day basis. They gave me their answers, and I knew that freedom is not a matter of monetary or age. It is assessed by what opportunities are provided to spend quality time that promotes peace and happiness.
#19. Being fabulous has no expiration date
I closed the notebook and refreshed my memories in the weeks I had spent. On each page, there was laughter, wisdom, strange mishaps, little battles, and indelible moments of conversation. These are women, indeed, that had turned my perception of growing older upside down. Previously, I believed the idea of retirement was primarily to slow down. Now I knew that retirement is not a time for living less but living differently! It is understanding and valuing everyday, making good friendships, forgiving minor errors and celebrating little things for fun. Retirement life can be slower, but certainly richer, kinder and more meaningful than ever.
#20. Old age is simply youth with better stories and louder opinions
I can now see an older lady reading quietly in the park, or knitting with her friends, or waiting in line for hours at the airport without maddening shoes and a bag of chips and think of the incredible women I encountered. I remember each of their stories and how each of those times in life has its own beauty. As one gets older, they face challenges but they also have wisdom, patience, freedom and memories that forever remain in their minds. Retirement is not the end of an exciting journey. It’s the start of a great new life story line for many women and a tale of laughter, hope, friendship, and a good time through each day, each day, each day. The lessons I gained will last me a lifetime and I hope I can inspire others to have some compassion and respect towards aging.
We hope that your spare time was not wasted by our collection of funny stories dedicated to retirement, aging, and the amazing ladies who confirm that laughter knows no age barriers. We hope that you found these stories funny and that these have shown you that aging means being wise, having a good sense of humor, and enjoying every day to the fullest. If you liked our compilation, we invite you to visit our website or simply click here, here, here and here where you will find a lot more funny comics, funny retirement jokes, and stories about seniors. And don’t hesitate to tell us about your favorite joke or your most amusing experience in retirement life. Your story can make somebody else laugh. Make sure you bookmark our website and return often for more comic strips and more humor.
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