Why Should I Worry | Natasha Josefowitz

Why Should I Worry

Natasha Josefowitz

The young people don't worry when they..,

don't remember

their best friend's name,

lose their car keys twice a week,

can't find their wallets,

misplace their glasses,

walk into a room and don't know

what it was they were looking for,

forget their own phone number,

can't think of a common word

they use every day,

can't recall what they just read

or what someone just said,

lose the list they wrote of

things to remember.

The young people just shrug their shoulders,

but people my age

think they have Alzheimer's disease.

That's Me ! | Natasha Josefowitz

That's Me !

Natasha Josefowitz

It's the crow's-feet

around my eyes

and the puffiness

below them.

It's the furrows

on my forehead

and the wrinkles

on my neck

that make me

place my hands

upon my temples,

pull back and say:

"See, this is how I would

look with a face-lift."

And a face

ten years younger appears,

but it's not mine. Then I let go

and smile at the familiar one,

knowing that's me

trying to grow older

gracefully.

These Are the Years of Living Dangerously

These Are the Years of Living Dangerously

Natasha Josefowitz

I drank milk

the day after its expiration date

I talked to the bus driver

while the bus was in motion

I undid my safety belt

before the plane came to a complete stop

I did not brush my teeth

before going to bed

I went out without my umbrella

even though they predicted rain

I took off the tag on my pillow that says

"Do not remove"

I walked where it said

"Do not step on the grass"

I took my dog out

without a leash

I washed a garment that said

"Dry-clean only"

I picked a flower

in someone else's garden

I live dangerously

I Finally Have Time

I Finally Have Time

Natasha Josefowitz

I now have time

for reading a newspaper

cover to cover instead of

skimming through it for the news

I can take a leisurely stroll

go to an afternoon movie

attend a lecture at the museum

enroll in a course

on something totally unrelated

to professional development

I have time to chat with a friend

about absolutely nothing

take the grandchildren for an outing

and be there for the children

when they need me

I read magazines

that are not educational

take time to shop

when I don't need anything

cook from scratch

instead of relying on take-out

I can wait at the light

without honking my horn

I don't cut people off

because I'm rushing somewhere

don't look at my watch

every minute and groan

I'm not afraid of wasting time

for I finally have time

to take... my time

There's Always Something I Must Do First

There's Always Something I Must Do First

Natasha Josefowitz

I will start enjoying life

after I get myself organized

I will exercise more

after I have updated my filing system

I will take a vacation

after I clean out the attic

I will buy myself some nice clothes

after I lose some weight

I will spend more time with my family

after I finish pasting the pictures

in the photo albums

I will start enjoying life

after it is too late

NOT !!!

The Best Is Yet to Come

The Best Is Yet to Come

Natasha Josefowitz

Don't have to climb

the corporate ladder

don't have to be upwardly mobile

don't have to move mountains

don't have to compete

or struggle with others

don't have to set my sights

upon some distant goal

don't have to prove anything

or cater to anyone

it's not uphill anymore

it's over that hill

with a lovely view

of the best years

yet to come

You're Only As Old As You Think You Are

You're Only As Old As You Think You Are

Natasha Josefowitz

This is a time in my life

that l don't want to miss -

old age is a privilege

denied to a lot o f people

and the best way to avoid

becoming an old dog

is to keep learning

new tricks

I always say that age

is only important

if you happen to be

wine or cheese

Yet when l get out of the shower

I am relieved that the mirror

is all fogged up

l have also noticed that

I'm beginning to decline a lot of offers -

preferring to stay home -

which is probably why they

call these the "declining years"

After middle-age spread

I look forward to old-age shrinkage

and I'm much too wise

to ever want to be young again

Natasha Josefowitz Biography

Natasha Josefowitz calls herself a late bloomer, having earned her master's degree at age 40 and her Ph.D. at age 50. She is an adjunct professor at the School of Social Work at San Diego state University, a noted columnist, and the author of three books on management, eight books of humorous verse, a book for children, and a book for couples.

Dr. Josefowitz is an internationally known speaker, having lived and worked abroad and in the U.S. Her efforts on behalf of women have earned her numerous awards, including The Living Legacy Award from the Women's International Center and The women Helping women Award from the Soroptimist International. She has been named woman of the Year eve times by various national and international organizations, including the women's management Association, and was also honored by California women in Government for her contributions to education.

Natasha is the mother and stepmother of five children and has seven grandchildren and step-grandchildren. She is grey-haired, wrinkled, and has a few extra pounds, but says she can celebrate life because she has PMZ (Post-menopausal zest).