"I have stayed pretty self-sufficient and don't like people prejudging what I can and cannot do because of my age. A few years ago, when I was in my late 70s, my daughter's childhood friend visited us with her husband. One day, we needed to take something down from a high shelf. I walked to the garage and brought out a stepladder. The husband immediately reacted as if I had done something wrong."
"Two Decembers ago, a young relative stayed with us for a few days. One morning, I made tea and brought it to her at our breakfast table. "What is this?" she said. "You sit. I will make breakfast." I told her that I make breakfast every day. I have been doing this and other household chores for years. I am not going to stop just because I am getting old."
Advancing age raises concerns about declining mental acuity and physical strength, underscored by the 2024 presidential election featuring two of the oldest candidates until President Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy. An 84-year-old individual reports being in good mental and physical health and credits daily routines and lifelong habits for that condition. The individual values self-sufficiency and resists age-based assumptions, describing moments when relatives attempted to take over tasks like using a stepladder or preparing breakfast. The individual advises not procrastinating on travel, hobbies, and learning new skills and cites recent active experiences.
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