Psychologically, there are two dangers to be guarded against in old age. One of these is undue absorption in the past. It does not do to live in memories, in regrets for the good old days, or in sadness about friends who are dead. One’ s thoughts must be directed to the future, and to things about which there is something to be done. This is not always easy; for one’ s own past is a gradually increasing weight. It is easy to think to oneself that one’ s emotions used to be more vivid than they are, and one’ s mind keener. If this is true, it should be forgotten, and if it is forgotten, it will probably not be true.

The other thing to be avoided is clinging to youth in the hope of sucking vigor from its vitality. When your children are grown up, they want to live their own lives, and if you continue to be as interested in them as you were when they were young, you are likely to become a burden to them. I do not mean that one should be without interest in them, but one’ s interest should be contemplative and, if possible, philanthropic, but not unduly emotional.