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I actually became a cantankerous Curmudgeon in my mid fifties, but at 60-1/2 or so I outgrew it and am now much more patient and kind to others.
I'm more mellow than ever before in my life. Offline, anyway; online I'm sometimes snarky but never curmudgeonly, and I don't see much curmudgeon behavior from others in this forum.
Through my fifties I did notice changes in my attitude, and yes, also in my personality. I viewed these changes as part of the aging process and took comfort in the fact that, at least, I was aware of what seemed to me to be a natural part of growing older. Although I tried to front a happy demeanor, I occasionally caught myself sliding into what I would call a negative, downward perspective toward the world and people. I felt that, as long as I was aware of this situation, I could stop the process and, in time, keep at bay those unacceptable personality changes.
I always say many see themselves as quite different than other see them ;no matter the type personality really. Certainly their opinion is much higher of their opinions
Sometimes being a "curmudgeon" can be a helpful thing... I like to put a positive spin on it... like "they can't fix it, if they don't realize it's broken!" It's the delivery of the "help" that makes all the difference... That being said, I find myself just opting to totally avoid situations I would have suffered through years ago...
Alas, I believe I arrived at a "curmudgeon" state quite a few years ago, and now I am just doing my best to polish all the edges!
I find myself just opting to totally avoid situations I would have suffered through years ago...
Quote:
Originally Posted by StressedOutNYer
What brings out the lower level of tolerance in us after the mid-century mark? IMHO it's the realization that life is too short to put up with b.s. (or other people's stupidity/thoughtlessness/rudeness etc) and that the universe doesn't give us any Brownie Points for doing so. ;-)
Various definitions of Curmudgeon "an ill-tempered person full of stubborn ideas or opinions", "a person (especially an old man) who is easily annoyed or angered and who often complains", "a surly or miserly person". Seems to me the behavior I quoted deserves its own word. Recently I was walking through an outdoor show and there was a booth selling newspapers. I am retired and that seems to have made me more mellow and actually stop and listen to a spiel, but I was not interested in this particular one at all and said so politely. The guy continued with what made me instantly put him into the category of "douche". In the past I would have probably walked by the booth and never even made any type of contact, but now my more patient self simply said "you would probably sell a lot more newspapers if you were not such a ...insert string of expletives..." and then walked away. So does that make me curmudgeon?
Various definitions of Curmudgeon "an ill-tempered person full of stubborn ideas or opinions", "a person (especially an old man) who is easily annoyed or angered and who often complains", "a surly or miserly person". Seems to me the behavior I quoted deserves its own word. Recently I was walking through an outdoor show and there was a booth selling newspapers. I am retired and that seems to have made me more mellow and actually stop and listen to a spiel, but I was not interested in this particular one at all and said so politely. The guy continued with what made me instantly put him into the category of "douche". In the past I would have probably walked by the booth and never even made any type of contact, but now my more patient self simply said "you would probably sell a lot more newspapers if you were not such a ...insert string of expletives..." and then walked away. So does that make me curmudgeon?
Not necessarily and certainly not by my previously posted (#16) definition.
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