I'm close enough to retirement that I find I'm less worried about tactfulness in my work environment. I used to view it as being careful which battles you chose to fight. Lately I'm willing to call out anybody that I think deserves it (even bosses, especially bosses). I have to admit it feels really great.

And it's not about being mean or crotchety. It's just more fun to call out an injustice when you're not risking so much.
This old age thing might not be so bad. What are they going to do, fire me?

I think what really feels great is financial freedom. When you are dependent on that next paycheck, you are understandably more likely to put up with things and less likely to complain. Now that I am working in an encore career strictly by choice, I do feel more empowered to speak out.

Also, it depends on the boss -- I have always gauged which ones will respect me if I criticize them, versus those who will feel threatened and become defensive or vengeful.

I've observed that older you get the more your "filters" are suppressed and eventually turn off.

I've had to tell my 84 year old mother that she should think twice before saying something. She seems to be pissing off people around her with her blunt talk.

She's made some very blunt comments about my niece and daughter in front of them. It just tell them "Grandma has no filters and she means no harm".

I find i'm less tolerant of a$$holes and let them know it. I have more years behind then ahead so there's no reason to ***** foot around when it comes to these people.

No doubt about it old age and retirement is freedom. Freedom to do what you want, and say what you want. Why supress what you say or think. It is a free country, yet anyway, and you are entitled to your opinion.

In fact I would encourage everyone to say what they think. There is a huge movement for group think and "approved" speech. Be your own person.

getting older has not changed my approach in dealing with people...I am old school in that regard...I figure any coward will speak up when he perceives no risk.

As I have it figured, I'm within months, not years, of retirement, and yes I am more prone than I was before to recognize those who so richly deserve it.

LOL, ESPECIALLY BOSSES! And all their friends who are kneeling at the trough!

Unless you've somehow had some sort of vision... or other life changing experience. What is it that now empowers you to know who deserves what? Unless it is just mean crotchetiness?

Children go through "stages" in their life.... and we all know that. EVERY parent is familiar with the terrible two's... where toddlers are busting-out frustrated-mean... from their failure to be able to communicate. Or maybe... the world-is-ending drama of a 14 year old daughter.

These "phases" in life don't stop at childhood. We pass through stages in our development our entire lives. Often times... how we behave in these developmental phases influences the remainder of our entire life. I would HIGHLY recommend you discard this crotchety persona you profess "feels really great". The great feeling stage won't last long.... and the negative repercussions may last the remainder of your life.

The older I get, the more I have the urge to blurt out whatever's on my mind. Not that it's always a good idea, and I have to watch that tendency much more than in the past (I'm usually pretty reserved in that regard). Maybe it's one of many side effects of job stress... ?

Dave,
That's some good advice.

Maybe stress. Maybe something else. Before I retired... my health had taken a downward turn (much improved now). I had noticed some personality changes in myself (as had my wife). I think you are correct to see these changes as a symptom... that may be best to discuss with a doctor.

Lets put it this way. Those over 70 including myself have a lifetime of experience to draw on. We have had all these years to form what we think on most all subjects. I would suggest younger people listen to their elders, they might learn something. What young people call picky or set in our ways is that lifetime of experience speaking.

We get too soon old and too late smart.

Years ago, a friend shared these three criteria:

- is it true?
- is it helpful?
- is it kind?

If you can satisfy the three conditions, you can go a long way toward making sure that the hearer really gets what you're trying to say. Seems to work really well.

If you can't satisfy all three, then stop before saying anything and ask why not...because there may be some better way to address the issue.

Perhaps you can post this in Pub51, for the general threads in this main 50+ are best for 50+ cycling. Thanks.