The Final Stretch

 

THE FINAL STRETCH
Written by Pam Erwin Moreton, with comments from Jim “Gymbeaux” Brown
May 26, 2026

DISCLAIMER: Normally I write the Nuggets I post but sometimes I post what other people have written, and this is one of those occasions. I can only wish I had written what Ms. Moreton posted on her Facebook feed; it is outstanding and very much, ON POINT! Read it and decide for yourself! I have included my own thoughts at the very end of her article.  Please, read on!

Written by Pam Erwin Moreton

“When I turned 63 last year (64 in March) I sat in my favorite chair, looked back at my life, and thought to myself.

“So… this is the beginning of the final stretch.”
And slowly, the truths I had avoided all my life began to surface.
Kids? They’re busy writing their own story.
Health? Slips away faster than sand through open fingers.
The government? Just headlines, promises, and numbers that never change your daily reality.
Aging doesn’t hurt your body first — it hurts your illusions.
So, I sat down with myself and carved out a handful of bitter but necessary truths.

Kids don’t save you from loneliness.
Children grow, life pulls them in every direction, and you become a memory they visit when time allows.
You smile… and yet something inside you remains strangely hollow.
Kids bring joy — but they are not a shield against loneliness. 

Health is not forever. 

One day, the outings you once jumped into with enthusiasm feel like a marathon.
You realize health was never a background character —
it was the main pillar holding your life steady.

Retirement and money 

Retirement is not a reward — it’s a reality check.
Depending on the system is like standing on thin ice.
Bills grow, needs grow, prices grow… but support doesn't.
So, I rebuilt my life on new rules — honest, sharp, practical rules for living with dignity. 

Rule 1: Money is more reliable than anything else.

Love your kids, cherish them —
but don’t make them your retirement plan.
Save for yourself.
Even small savings create big freedom.
Financial independence is dignity. 

Rule 2: Your health is your real job.

Nothing else matters if your body refuses to cooperate.
Move. Walk. Stretch.
Guard your sleep like treasure.
Eat cleaner. Reduce the poison disguised as sugar and salt.
Illness doesn’t discriminate,
but it respects those who take responsibility for themselves. 

Rule 3: Create your own joy.

Waiting for others to make you happy is the fastest way to heartbreak.
So, you learn to enjoy the small things —
a peaceful breakfast, a good book, music that warms the soul.
When you know how to make yourself happy, loneliness loses its power. 

Rule 4: Aging is not an excuse to become helpless.

Some people turn aging into a performance of complaints.
And slowly, even those who love them start stepping away.
Strength is attractive.
Resilience is magnetic.
People respect the ones who stay capable, not the ones who surrender. 

Rule 5: Let go of the past.

The good old days were beautiful — yes.
But they’re gone, and there is no return ticket.
Clinging to the past steals the present.
Life today may look different, but it still holds moments worth living.

Rule 6: Protect your peace like it’s your property.

Not every argument needs your voice.
Not every insult needs your response.
Not every relative deserves access to your emotions.
Peace is expensive.
Protect it from drama, negativity, and draining people —
even if they're your close ones. 

Rule 7: Keep learning something — anything.

The day you stop learning is the day you start aging.
A new recipe, a new word, a new app, a new hobby —
your brain needs movement just like your body does.
Learning keeps you young.
Stagnation makes you old. 

Strength and freedom still belong to you.

Aging is an exam no one can take for you.
You can adapt, rebuild, and rise stronger…
or sit back, complain, and wait for someone to rescue you.
And if ....
No one comes to rescue you ....
Stand up for yourself ...
Because you still can…
And that single truth is enough to transform the rest of your life.” 

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As stated in the Disclaimer, I can only have wished that I wrote what Ms. Moreton has written; it is outstanding! For readers of my Nuggets, they know that I cannot help myself because I want to add to something even as good as the above information is and this is no exception. 

I turned 81 in 2026, and I can attest that what Ms. Moreton writes about is so true. For me, that would have been over TWENTY years ago and the items she puts forth only increase over time. 

The one item NOT itemized is that I believe that you must acknowledge and plan for the fact that you will live into your 70s, 80s and even 90s. Therefore, it is my opinion that everyone ought to work to eliminate all debt that can be eliminated as soon as possible. I am NOT a financial advisor. I just know that being debt free is more calming than being in debt!  Worrying about how you are going to pay your bills when the income suddenly becomes less than what you have thought would never end, can be hazardous to your physical health AND your mental health. Home loans, car loans, student loans, needless credit card debt should be paid off ASAP! I learned this lesson late in life thanks to one simple sentence by Gary Keller, co-founder of Keller Williams Realty International. "Lead with REVENUES, NOT with EXPENSES!" Keller would also say if you cannot pay cash for something, don't buy it unless you absolutely MUST buy it, which is rarely the case.  Required dental work would be such an example; something you cannot put off!  A GREAT tip comes from Joe Tye who coined the phrase, DDQ, Direction-Deflection-Question. It is simple and works almost every time it is used. Ask and answer the question. “If I buy this, will it lead to my goal of being financially independent?” If yes, buy it, If NO, don't!  I used this principle to lose weight.  “If I eat or drink this item, will it lead to me achieving my desired weight of ____?”  If yes, eat or drink it.  If not, do not!