Coming up to 60 years old

[TheOtherHalf]

My OH will be 60 in 2 weeks time. hes getting very depressed about it and i cant seem to pull him out of it no matter how I hard I try to re -assure him that its just another day. I think its partly because his father and quite a lot of his ancestors died in their 60`s and hes really worrying about it. Can anyone give any tips or advice please ?

[VHG]

I turned 60 last September. The morning I woke up on the 1st January I thought "this is the year I turn 60".

I hated the idea a felt very old. As they year went on the date got nearer and nearer, and I was like a bear with a sore head. I did not want a party or to celebrate it.

In the end we had a party, the day went fine, and since then I have thought no more about it.

There are benefits with being over 60 (you can get all sorts of deals) so I think you are going have to put up with it until the day, then once the day goes he will be fine.

[jno]

bus passes... free medicine... plus everyone's living longer than their ancestors. Tell him to wait until he's 100, then he can really start worrying.

http://www.seniorsdiscounts.co.uk/

[VHG]

Also, we joined Saga when I was 50, and we get the Saga magazine.

Every month they list famous people who have milestone birthdays (50, 60,70,80 etc) and there are many people over 60 and 70 who lead very active and interesting lives.

Tell him David Bowie is 63, Paul McCartney is 68, Jane Fonda is 72, Judi Dench is 75 and so on.

There is plenty more he can do when he is 60.

Suggest he tries something "new". Walk the great wall of china for charity, write a book, visit Chile, build a web site etc etc etc.

[trt]

£250 winter allowance as well.

[VHG]

Also, in terms of the worry about his relatives dying.

Well Mozart died when he was about 35 so he had done far better than Mozart.

But he may NOT die young. He may live for years.

The important thing is to make the most of those years.

During the decade while he is 60 he will still be fit enough to do plenty of things.

He can either sit on his backside and worry about when he is going to die, or get off his backside and DO things.

Worrying about when he is going to die will not help anything. A friend of mine had a 21 year old son who had just got a degree at university, and went to a new town to start a new job. Within a week of starting his job he was hit by a bus and died.

So it can happen to any of us at any time.

So he has to look at the positive. He IS alive, he still has a wife, there is a lot he can achieve.

Or he can sit on the armchair every day thinking "is this the day I am going to die".

[TheOtherHalf]

Thank you all for your posts. Hes not one for sitting around on his backside but he is a worrier .Im trying to organise something really special for him.He deserves it. Hes been a good husband for 36 years. Perhaps when the day comes he wont feel so bad and then hes my 60 to look forward to and my sons wedding etc and grandchildren (hopefully)
Thanks again

[brenda]

Just tell him about all the people who died before they were 60 -- millions I expect .
So do him a party, both get legless and have an orgy.

[TheOtherHalf]

Sounds like a great idea Brenda. Thanks

[Wak]

Been to a funeral today so I reckon that another birthday is far better than the alternative.
Tell him to be thankful and think himself lucky that he has the chance of another one and just get on with the celebrations.