This post was first published on the wonderful Sue Vincent’s blog in 2018 and four years later I can honestly say that I am enjoying my Second Childhood in most repects. A little slower maybe and not quite as fearless as the first time around, but I do believe that however much time you may have in front of you, it should be fully embraced and celebrated.
Sally aged 7 years old – looking forward and not back
Why I am skipping Old Age and embarking on my Second Childhood instead.
I have researched the delights of Old Age rigorously, in an effort to determine if I want to actually accept the title. I looked after my mother for several years in her late 80s to her mid-90s, and I would say that she was young at heart until dementia robbed her of that at age 92.
She said that she felt the same inside as she had as a young woman, despite the wrinkles and failing body. She proved to me that Attitude is the key to anti-aging not botox or other miracle wrinkle busters.
I was 60 years old when she passed away and I felt that it was my obligation to carry on the family tradition she had established, to maintain at the very least a young outlook on life. I have spent the last nine years attempting to achieve this desired state.
The first stage is to determine if you are already in danger of becoming one of the Old Age Brigade!
I use a little check list to identify where I am on the scale of maturity and I call it the Old Fogies Alert Test... It is a little bit of fun but it is amazing how closely I can identify with some of these statements for myself and friends and relatives who are over a certain age.
- Conversations with friends your own age turn into ‘duelling ailments’
- Your idea of a night out is sitting on your patio.
- You buy clothes that hide your body rather than enhance it.
- You give up all your bad habits and you still don’t feel good.
- You feel that no one respects your opinions anymore
- You keep repeating yourself.
- You resist going to places where you will meet new people, preferring the comfort of your known friends and acquaintances.
- You begin every sentence with ‘Nowadays or In My Day or When I was your age’
- You constantly criticise the younger generation.
- You feel that it is not worth changing at your age as it will not make a difference
- You order the same meal every time you go to a restaurant.
- Happy hour is a nap.
- You stop celebrating birthdays as it reminds you of how old you are.
As a contrast here is a list of the magical wonder of the world that I remember from when I was seven years old.
- Everyone is your friend until they prove otherwise.
- Going to school and learning to read and write is thrilling
- Soap bubbles, sixpence to spend on sweets, and a Christmas stocking are eagerly anticipated and treasured.
- You don’t like Brussel Sprouts but you eat them because mum says they are good for you, and you get treacle tart afterwards if you eat them.
- A book with pictures at bedtime is the best time of the day.
- Raindrops on the windowpane keep you fascinated for hours.
- The wonder of your first snowfall.
- The distraction of a spinning top that was meant for Christmas, but helps ease the pain of an ear-ache.
- The love of older sisters who let you tag along behind them and who make you smocked dresses with knickers to match.
- Watching cartoons on Saturday morning and laughing like a drain without worrying about what others might think.
- Hearing music and dancing as if nobody is watching.
- Singing along to your favourite songs, especially The Ugly Bug Ball.
- Believing in fairies and Father Christmas
- The future stretches ahead full of wondrous possibilities
One of the key differences between a child’s outlook in life and someone who has accepted the Old Age title.. is one is looking forward and one is looking back!
This is why I love blogging and writing books.
I am looking forward to….
- Getting up each morning and checking my blog for interaction from my online friends.
- Chatting with friends on Facebook and catching up with the ‘overnighters’ on Twitter.
- Planning next week’s posts, laughing at the videos of dogs having fun and finding new jokes to make people smile.
- Writing another short story and looking forward to sharing it with friends.
- Reading posts from around the world that entertain, inform and expand my knowledge.
- Trying one of the recipes for a food I think as commonplace that has been elevated by a creative cook.
- Reading a poem that makes me cry.
- Wishing someone thousands of miles away Happy Birthday.
- Looking forward to Christmas and sharing that time with everyone I am connected to.
- Believing in magic and fairies
- Changing someones attitude to life, love and the future with my writing.
- Sharing this post with you today.
- The future stretches ahead with wondrous possibilities
- Looking forward and not back.
©Sally Cronin 2018
About me….
I have enjoyed a nomadic existence living in eight countries including Sri Lanka, Malta, South Africa, USA and Spain, before settling back here in Ireland. My work, and a desire to see some of the most beautiful parts of the world in the last forty years, has taken me to many more incredible destinations around Europe and Canada, and across the oceans to New Zealand and Hawaii. All those experiences and the people that I have met, provide a rich source of inspiration for my stories.
After a career in customer facing roles in the hospitality, retail, advertising and telecommunications industry, I wrote and published my first book in 1999 called Size Matters, about my weight loss journey, losing 150lbs in 18 months. This has been followed by 14 further fiction and non-fiction books, including a number of short story collections.
My first book release resulted in a radio interview in Spain that led to four years as a nutritional consultant for an English language station, and this was followed by four years with my own health show and Sunday morning show on local radio station in the UK and then as station director, newsreader and presenter for an online television station.
As a writer I know how important it is to have help in marketing books and from 2002 I have been working with authors on their book launches and publicity. At that time it was very much physical book launches and press coverage locally to stimulate national interest.. Today it is very different with a global market via the worldwide web.
As important as my own promotion is, I believe it is important to support others within our community. I offer a number of FREE promotional opportunities on my blog, linked to my social media. If you are an author who would like to be promoted to a new audience of dedicated readers, please contact me via my blog. All it will cost you is a few minutes of your time. Look forward to hearing from you.
For 2022 there are some changes to the promotions with the focus on those authors I can personally recommend and you can find the details here…The Smorgasbord Bookshelf – 2022 – Free book marketing and Personal Recommendations
You can connect to me on the blog: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Twitter: @sgc58 – Facebook: Sally Cronin – LinkedIn: Sally Cronin
You can find recent reviews and buy links: Sally’s books and recent reviews
On the money, Sal. Reading your list as a child it makes me think that, apropos your ‘If I knew then’ series it would be that Brussel sprouts are a wonderful vegetable…
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Thanks Geoff… their status confirmed by the fact my father always made one of his treacle suet puddings and custard for dessert to enourage their consumption… ♥
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wise man!
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Brava! Well said and inspiring. ❤
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Thanks very much Annette..♥♥
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Love this post, Sally! Perspective truly is everything! 🙂
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Thanks very much Yvette ♥
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That’s wonderful, Sally – you’re an inspiration. Toni 💖 💖 💖
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Thanks very much Toni.. as are all of you who contribute so much to my life every day ♥♥
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❤️❤️
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I love this!! It’s the perfect way to start my day. I have much to look forward to!
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Thanks Liz.. enjoy every minute ♥
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You’re welcome, Sally. 🙂
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Thanks Sally! My friend Sam calls this windshield vs. rear view mirror living. The rear mirror is much smaller and difficult to focus on, while the windshield has a wide forward-looking view.
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Great analogy by Sam.. spot on.. thanks Dorothy ♥
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LOVE this analogy! Thanks, Dorothy!
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It is great.. love it. ♥
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I love what you are looking forward to, Sally. Your list is similar to mine! I don’t remember having Brussel sprouts as a kid – but I hated boiled spinach.
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Lol..always the green stuff in one form or another… now I through a handful of raw in the vegetable mix at lunchtime and love it..♥
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Well if reading this post doesn’t inspire and uplift folks, then they need to do some serious introspection! What an especially great thing for me to read this morning, when I’m struggling a bit with Long Covid fatigue & brain fog. (Both are annoyingly persistent!) You’ve reminded me to focus on the important things in life, like why I love blogging and doing speaking engagements locally on our wonderful wildlife, and making people laugh, and most of all, WRITING at a time in life when so many have given up and plopped down on the ol’ porch swing to watch others having all the fun.
I believe in your approach to life 100%, my ROCKIN’ friend, but sometimes I do have days when I sort of forget this stuff and don’t do as good a job of keeping my head on straight as I could. I’m saving this post for future reference when that happens, and I know it will make me smile every time!
Thank you for being the wonderful, supportive, uplifting, funny, and inspiring person you are! In today’s troubled world, we need more like you, and that’s what I’M going to aim for, too!
Big Hugs from Sunny Florida! 🤗💖🤗
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Marcia you do so much to lift the spirits of others even when you have been going through Long Covid and brain fog. So much more to look forward to.. Keep rockin’ my lovely friend… ♥♥♥
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Thanks for such nice words, Sally. And back atcha!! ❤️❤️❤️
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♥♥
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I love this, Sally! I completely agree. I have found myself sounding old sometimes, especially around certain people. I try to catch myself and get back to star gazing and looking forward to life.
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Good attitude Denise… we only life once ♥
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What a lovely post, Sally. I totally agree that attitude is the key to a long and happy life. Sure, the body will fail and the mind may grow weaker, but we keep a smile on our faces and turn toward the sun. Thank you for this beautiful reminder as I enter my birthday month and am turning 71. 🙂
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Thanks Jan and you always look light years away from 71.. I am 70 in February and tend to kick my heels up.. have to break that gently to a certain someone lol… One of my sisters is 80 the week after so probably a join celebration..♥
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Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thank you for sharing Michael..hugsx
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Very inspiring and also motivating, Sally! It seems Brussel Sprouts and spinach are something like a national treasure in England? 😉 Honestly i can’t remember having it on the table, in my childhood. The term “Old Age Brigade” shows all. :-)) Thanks for a funny read. I am sure you would have become a important politic counselor too, when you would have been more interested in politics. Best wishes, Michael
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Thanks Michael.. I think I might have been too hard liner for most if I had gone into politics.. I have not time for shenanigans…hugs
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Hi Sally, this is a lovely post. I really enjoy this idea and my mom is very young at heart which is why I think she has remained so active and youthful in her appearance even though she is over 80 now. This Going to school and learning to read and write is thrilling is splendid. I have been reading The Picture of Dorian Gray and I feel just like this. It is so exciting and thrilling. It is my current favourite book [as you know the one I’m currently reading is usually my current favourite]. I do not know how people live without the joy of reading. It just fills me with so much joy and happiness.
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It is escapism at the highest level Robbie and as a child and now as an adult I find myself totally engaged and able to step in all the amazing worlds authors provide us with. Exciting.♥
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What an uplifting post, Sally. More power to you.
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You are no slouch in this area John ♥
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Aww. Thank you, Sally.
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Oh Sal, I love your list. Yes we aren’t kids anymore, but acting like the old age brigade doesn’t sound like much fun, and I know you and I both are still interested in doing fun things. That is something we cannot lose! ❤ xx
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Life if for living… gotta go for it ♥♥
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You said it girl! ❤ xx
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♥
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Childhood is such a beautiful time. I usually look for a way to exit when someone starts listing every ailment they’ve had in the past 20 years. Your perspective is right on the money. I can’t say that I’m excited for every added year, but grateful for the wisdom it brings.
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With you all the way Pete on that last comment. Looking forward with appreciation of the small moments of joy to come.. hugsx
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Nothing wrong with looking back with fond memories but at the same time looking ahead and creating more memories. I definitely do not constantly criticise the younger generation. I love them and think they are great. I get annoyed with anyone who does complain. (I think they are just jealous) And I never order the same thing at a restaurant. Looking at both lists, I tend to follow the second one more. But then I have often been accused of not growing up. I’m OK with that. I’m off to go shopping with my 9-year-old neighbour. xo
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Lol.. with you all the way Darlene and I hope you found some wonderful zany bargains with your neighbour.. everything looks so much better through the eyes of a child..hugs xx
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Always and she is such a good shopper too. She finds great things for me as well as for her.
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Perfect ♥
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This is brilliant, Sally! I will admit to a few things on the first list but they’re considerably outnumbered by those on the second one. We have seven grandchildren aged 5 – 20 and we spend a lot of time with them and I love their perspective on life. The people I’ve met on here show through their words that they’ve not given up on living and settled back into a rocking chair to focus on the past and grumble about the present. xx
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What a wonderful age range of grandchildren Trish and as you say plenty of scope to explore your own youthful approach to life… still got some living to do…♥♥
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Aren’t they wonderful? My grandchildren/great-grandchildren range from 12 to 32. So much fun.
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Wonderful Darlene.. ♥
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Reblogged this on and commented:
It’s time to rethink how we view aging. Growing older is a privilege not a curse. Read writer Sally Cronin’s view on a second childhood and see if you don’t agree. Now where is my Barbie doll?
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lol.. thanks very much GG ..
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Way to go Sally! Proage all the way. I rebogged. Good story.
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Thanks GG and for the reblog..hugsx
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You’re very welcome.
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Sally, you rock! You are the glass half full. Children really are what we all need to be to stay young.
Thank goodness you are, and thank goodness I am.
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Thanks very much Jennie.. losing hope and dreams is no way to spend the rest of our lives. ♥
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Exactly! 😍
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Reblogged this on A Teacher's Reflections and commented:
Staying young is they key to happiness and a long life. As Sally says, head into your second childhood. She is spot in! Children are sunbeams, and we need to become children once again. Thank you, Sally!
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Thanks very much Jennie and surrounded by those little ones all the time must keep you forever young ♥♥
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My pleasure, Sally. The world needs to have the attitude of joy and sunshine that come naturally to children. I’m the lucky one to be surrounded by children every day. Thank you again for your wonderful post!
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Sounds like a great attitude, Sally. I’m skipping old age too.
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We are going to be the most rockin’ bunch of bloggers ever.. ♥
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Cheers!
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Thanks Bette ♥
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I really enjoyed your post, Sally, and agree with you about the importance of looking forward, of doing new things and creating new possibilities. I’ve always considered myself to be a six year old at heart and see no reason to change that thinking now, although I have friends who would feel more comfortable if I slowed down a bit. I laughed out loud when you mentioned ‘The Ugly Bug Ball’. I taught that to my children (class) and we would sing it with such enthusiasm. It is fantastic. Now I won’t be able to get it out of my head.
I love the photo of seven-year-old you as much as I love your current pic. Your beautiful soul shines through. Magic.
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Thanks so much Norah.. and loved Burl Ives… Mairzy Doats lol.. I am sure your children loved The Ugly Bug Ball.. such a great song…hugsx♥
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Thank you! Cheers!
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Thanks Pamela..x
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Lovely, Sally. The advantage of being a child again is that this time we don’t have to go through the terrible teenage years, and we’ve (hopefully) learned to be more relaxed and take life (and ourselves) a little bit less seriously. Thanks, for the inspiration!
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Definitely do not want to go through the teen years again lol.. thanks Olga ♥
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Thanks very much for sharing.. enjoy the rest of the week.
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Enjoyable look at life. Thanks so much, Sally. As I tell myself every day, Carpe Diem. And I try to. It seems you do too. Carry on and enjoy xx
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The only way to look at things Jane.. onwards and upwards..♥
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Yep, wearing big girls’ pants and a wide smile. x
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That was lovely, Sally. Just having returned from vacation, I’m feeling pretty young and heart. I’ll keep an eye on the Old Fogies List though just in case. Lol. Thanks for the reminder that it’s all about the attitude. ❤
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Thanks Diana and I get the impression you are a long way from hitting that list ♥♥
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Ha ha. Trying my best. 😀
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