By JACKIE TAYLOR | October 21, 2026

Age

There are lots of sayings about age; some fit, some don’t. 

I was hoping that with age my mouth would stay shut and I’d be smarter – but, alas, that does not seem to be the case.

I still have certain people that push my buttons. I equate holding my tongue, despite knowing it is biblical and nice, seems to be like what happens to a rubber band after you stretch it countless times. Eventually, the elasticity wears out and it breaks; such it seems is my lack of ability to hold my tongue. I’m broken.

As a ‘mature’ adult, I know I need to temper my anger, frustration, etc. – but Lord have mercy! Sometimes I get bit and I bite back.

Maybe you out there never have that; I assume most of you are better at holding your tongue. Apparently, my hold button needs some work.

I look at senior citizens that have lived long, productive lives and I value their knowledge, experience, etc. And, I realize that in a few short years, I’ll be walking in their shoes.

What I don’t want to happen is that I turn out to be like some of the people that push my buttons. I pray that I can be a kind person with lots of patience. I don’t want to be one that others hate being around.

I believe people get into a habit of being bitter and nasty; they just don’t know they are doing it. They prejudge me and my actions and believe I’m out to get them. On the contrary, thankfully, I am not gifted with vindictiveness to that degree – and I’m gifted with a short memory. Forgive and forget…forgetting is sometimes difficult, but not impossible.

One thing I appreciate about age is the wisdom imparted on me; maybe it’s experience, but ‘been there, done that’ means a lot in terms of not getting into deep pucky.

I’m super sick of Facebook and the muck that follows it. I much prefer face-to-face meetings, they seem to turn out better and both people end up with an understanding of where each other are.

I have one Facebook friend that was a law enforcement officer; he and I banter back and forth – as do I with other people. It’s gotten to be a game to post things and wait for a reaction…but it’s not done in meanness, just a dance of two people that don’t agree at all on politics. There is no throwing of rocks, etc.; it’s civil discourse through a meme or two and a post or two.

One of my goals in life is to grow into a nice, old person; not a turd that people hate being around. I get tested on a regular basis and you’d think I’d win; but, as a frail human being, I lose my inner battle quite often.

I know some of you out there are very kind people; I appreciate that as it’s hard to do and hard to stay in that realm. 

I think one thing that is evident to me is that people react to someone who is unhappy, mean or nasty. Unfortunately, people who get into a habit of being that way cast their goo in many directions, kind of like a cow pooping on a flat rock. 

I think they are in a mental frame of mind where they expect to be pooped on and their actions bring them into the splash zone.

I don’t think anyone wants to be unfriendly to another, especially in a work environment such as we have. We want to be kind, and thank God, I’ve got people that can buffer me from others. 

My personal weakness to snap and not be patient is apparent. It’s a fault I work on – as a frail being, I apologize to those I may be less than patient with and I thank those who help me through this life – hopefully, to be a better person.

Have a great day, people!