A while back I kept seeing signs that said old age is not for sissies.

I thought it was a silly sign.

Maybe I was a bit too young to “get it” because it didn’t resonate with me.

A few years have gone by since then but I still think there are better mottos to remember as we age.

I have found that the older I get the more complicated life gets. My husband and I often say “it takes two” because it often takes two of us to figure something out. Then I feel good when I solve the little problem.

I actually have a motto that sums up my personal attitude about life.

My personal philosophy is not to dwell on what I can no longer do. Instead, I keep thanking God for what I can do.

Sometimes we lose a particular ability without even knowing it until we try it and can’t do it.

My friend Jeanne and I work out a bit every day and we try hard to stay limber.

Yet both of us were surprised when we couldn’t skip around the room like the little kids we thought we were. We could still skip but it wasn’t the exuberant skipping of our youth.

Now, we have to be careful whenever we take a step. Having both feet off the ground at the same time could be a disaster.

A few years ago when David’s brother and his wife came for a rare visit I was so excited that I literally ran to meet them.

Instead of being able to throw my arms around them like I wanted to the running caused me to take a very nasty fall. I laid there like a very ungraceful beached whale.

I landed full force on my forehead and had to go to the emergency room, where they said I had a concussion. That was the end of my running days.

Now, I’m grateful I can still go for my early morning walks.

That, my dear readers, is my new philosophy. Instead of focusing on what I can no longer do, I am grateful for what I can do.

Last week I had a very long and honest conversation with a relative about how depressed she is because she cannot function like she once could. “Everything is hard,” she said. “I tire quickly and don’t get much done in a day.”

I told her I absolutely do not focus on what I cannot do. Instead, I feel good when I do accomplish something. And I always say “thank you” in gratitude.

A long time ago I learned to go easy on myself. I absolutely try hard for everything. I give it my very best.

If, despite all my best effort, I just can’t do it, I forgive myself. After all, we can’t do any more than give it our best.

My husband and I have a running conversation about what is failure.

His idea of failure is not being able to ride his bike for many miles like he used to do every day.

He never babied himself and refused to not being able to do something. He kept pushing himself until he could do it.

But Father Time doesn’t respect our strong will. Sooner or later we get to the point where no amount of effort will make us agile again.

When David got to the point where he knew he couldn’t bike like he used to he was depressed.

He would wake up every day with the same complaint: “I can’t do what I used to.”

I kept telling him NO ONE can continue doing what they once did. We had the same conversation every day that went nowhere, except to prove David and I have different personal philosophies.

Finally, David decided that while he can no longer ride his favorite street bike he can ride a recumbent bike. He bought one and can now be seen every single day riding his bike in our neighborhood.

Our neighbors think at his advanced age David is incredible. His doctors say has the body of a much longer man.

All that doesn’t impress David. He still complains that he can’t do what he used to do.

He is right when he says he has stayed in shape only because he never cut himself any slack.

Unfortunately, he refused to adopt my gratitude for everything we CAN do.

As they say, different strokes for different folks.

Life changes every day. Some of the changes that are forced on us are difficult to accept. But I believe one is happier when we adopt to change. As they say, we can curse the darkness, or we can turn on a light and enjoy the view.

As I was cleaning out my house in preparation of moving to a much smaller place I came across what was my favorite activity photograph.

There I am in all my glory paddling in my kayak through fierce whitewater. I remember how thrilled I was that I made it through the turbulent river without going over.

It was a grand moment. Life is made up of grand moments.

The trick is to let go of the past so we can have different grand moments.

Ahhh, life is good.

Enjoy every day.

Email Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net