Getting older can bring with it a package of funny behaviours. Things that slip in that can be considered ‘Fuddy Duddy’. These behaviours can sneak in, and you won’t even notice that they are starting to get a foothold into your life. They start gently and then once they have a footing, they pick up momentum. |
What brought my awareness to this occurrence that I had been allowing to grow over time was that a few years ago, one of my daughters started to gently enlighten me – as soon as she smells a rat, she is onto it.
She has a very particular way of pointing out behaviours. In that moment I get to see the ridiculousness of what I have been choosing to do. In fact, we usually end up having a really good laugh – there is no holding back, she gives it to me straight. In these moments I know exactly what she is talking about, and I think that is what makes me laugh so much because in that moment I get to see the things that I have taken on that are not from me. Such moments now stand out like flashing neon lights.
In repeating these old patterns I’m putting myself into a basket where I do not belong because these behaviours all come with a word in front of them: ‘OLD FUDDY DUDDY’. I am definitely not a ‘Fuddy Duddy’, I am 65 years young, and feeling spunky.
While you are reading this, you may be starting to feel that you know what I’m talking about? Those little peculiar behaviours, those ideals and beliefs that may have come out of the ark.
Putting things off until you have more time such as not washing your hair when you feel that it needs to be washed, but in the meantime, doing too much that does not allow you the time. It’s like playing a game with yourself that can keep you from lovingly looking after yourself at a much deeper level. This had been a big one for me, putting myself last. Putting all the should dos in front of what was a loving thing to do for myself.
It’s in those moments that we put other things in front of what is needed for us. Those old patterns that may have come from our parents, or even their parents.
Another thing is having a pile of yesterday’s clothes that you have in the cupboard that you may have worn yesterday but are still sitting there because you may wear them tomorrow or the day after.
I was at my daughter’s place last night and had to go to her fridge, as soon as I looked inside it, I felt how I had to go through my fridge as I knew there were things that I had in there that I had not used and had been sitting there past their use by date, or maybe things that we no longer use but I had still been hanging onto them just in case.
Someone was recently telling me about when they were children living on a farm out of town and they had fresh bread delivered each day, but they were never allowed to eat the fresh bread. They had to finish yesterday’s bread first before they could eat today’s bread. They were always eating stale bread. It must have been before toasters were invented!
I remember years ago before I learnt to love myself, that I would not turn the air conditioner on in the car if I was the only person in the car. “I can’t put the air conditioner on, it is too expensive to run just for me, meanwhile I’ll just sit here dripping wet. I’m ok”. Those days are definitely long gone, thank heaven. Literally.
How many ‘Fuddy Duddy’ behaviours can you come up with to add to my list?
Denise C., Australia
If you enjoyed this article for further reading you may also like:
Should I Love Myself, and if so Should I Self-Care?
She has a very particular way of pointing out behaviours. In that moment I get to see the ridiculousness of what I have been choosing to do. In fact, we usually end up having a really good laugh – there is no holding back, she gives it to me straight. In these moments I know exactly what she is talking about, and I think that is what makes me laugh so much because in that moment I get to see the things that I have taken on that are not from me. Such moments now stand out like flashing neon lights.
In repeating these old patterns I’m putting myself into a basket where I do not belong because these behaviours all come with a word in front of them: ‘OLD FUDDY DUDDY’. I am definitely not a ‘Fuddy Duddy’, I am 65 years young, and feeling spunky.
While you are reading this, you may be starting to feel that you know what I’m talking about? Those little peculiar behaviours, those ideals and beliefs that may have come out of the ark.
Putting things off until you have more time such as not washing your hair when you feel that it needs to be washed, but in the meantime, doing too much that does not allow you the time. It’s like playing a game with yourself that can keep you from lovingly looking after yourself at a much deeper level. This had been a big one for me, putting myself last. Putting all the should dos in front of what was a loving thing to do for myself.
It’s in those moments that we put other things in front of what is needed for us. Those old patterns that may have come from our parents, or even their parents.
Another thing is having a pile of yesterday’s clothes that you have in the cupboard that you may have worn yesterday but are still sitting there because you may wear them tomorrow or the day after.
I was at my daughter’s place last night and had to go to her fridge, as soon as I looked inside it, I felt how I had to go through my fridge as I knew there were things that I had in there that I had not used and had been sitting there past their use by date, or maybe things that we no longer use but I had still been hanging onto them just in case.
Someone was recently telling me about when they were children living on a farm out of town and they had fresh bread delivered each day, but they were never allowed to eat the fresh bread. They had to finish yesterday’s bread first before they could eat today’s bread. They were always eating stale bread. It must have been before toasters were invented!
I remember years ago before I learnt to love myself, that I would not turn the air conditioner on in the car if I was the only person in the car. “I can’t put the air conditioner on, it is too expensive to run just for me, meanwhile I’ll just sit here dripping wet. I’m ok”. Those days are definitely long gone, thank heaven. Literally.
How many ‘Fuddy Duddy’ behaviours can you come up with to add to my list?
Denise C., Australia
If you enjoyed this article for further reading you may also like:
Should I Love Myself, and if so Should I Self-Care?