There are two kinds of old people: Angry and happy. I don’t think this happens overnight. You have to train for the type of old person you want to be and this training should begin immediately, no matter your current age.

Take Me for Example:

I began preparing for old age during my late 30’s. It’s fairly easy. All you need to do is pay attention to your surroundings, or rather the people who surround you and just learn from them.

Luckily, I had great teachers.

The elders in my family were great teachers. Some represented the meanest, angriest, and hateful old people I ever met. Then again, some were soft spoken, sweet, loving, and happy old people. Admittedly, I tended to identify with the former group. I guess it’s that DNA thing. So, I knew I would need some training.

If you are not thinking about what type of old person you will become now you will find yourself suddenly an old person. You will then have to accept whatever old person you have become. In this case you probably will just be angry that you became old so quickly.

Understandably,

Most young people do not want to think about becoming old. When the subject comes up, they may even cry out “Oh, I’ll never live long enough to become old.” I have spoken those exact words in my youth. But if this continues to remain your philosophy and old age is somehow attained (let’s say 65) you probably will be joining the angry old folks’ team by default. Don’t worry, this team accepts all angry people.

I run into them all the time

Usually, they run into me. Just the other day at Walmart while pushing my cart along the bread isle and loading up on potato bread (I love potato bread) when a cart crashed into me from behind. An elderly man unleashed a barrage of obscenities as he forced me and my cart into the rows of bread so he could get by. Now, I’m not perfect by any means, but I consider myself to be on “happy team oldie.” That’s because of early planning and training to make that team. Of course I was startled, but also very sincere with my apology for obstructing him. Apparently, he didn’t accept my apology because he turned and whacked my cart with an umbrella, a weapon that I hadn’t previously noticed. At least my potato bread wasn’t damaged.

Imagine what might happen

if two members of “angry team oldie” had the same encounter. Well, here’s an example: a few weeks ago, I witnessed an elderly man actually poke another man with his cane in the sporting goods department to make him move out of his way. Pushing, cursing, and shoving between the two men followed until they got tired and both fell against a rack of hunting wear. Obviously, neither ever expected to “live this long.”

It costs nothing to be nice. It can be more costly to be mean. Choose your team early.

Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Thanks for reading, Dennis (Elton Stanley)