I've come to realize that life isn't as much under our own personal control as we'd like to hope. So with that in mind, I've stopped kicking myself for many past events. The great thing about getting older is that one stops wasting time trying to be perfect.

I'm glad that many here are enjoying life after 50, but I must say, I get a little tired of reading posts about how (for example) an 86 year old cyclist is so inspiring. Good health is not entirely under one's own control - if being healthy is inspiring, does that mean that the infirm are to be ashamed? I watch as my mother copes with both advanced osteoporosis and late stage Parkinson's. She can no longer speak, although thankfully she can still, with effort, trundle her walker down a hallway, or get into a car for a ride. I assure you, she expends as much mental and physical energy doing that, as any 86 year old wonder on a bicycle. She is also why so many car-free people irritate me so much. A car gives her what little freedom she has left - and as it is, she must leave the driving to someone else.

I think I understand what NOS88 (hope I got the handle right) meant by saying that past experiences can force us to adapt and to react, but the degree of severity of the past can vary greatly. A little adversity can stimulate, too much can depress.