This is a cowdsourced database for reasons why growing old is great. It was made for celebrating the anniversaries of my friend Malla and me in June 2012. Thanks for everyone who contributed to this so far, especially Saana Härkönen, Petrikki Tukiainen, Thomas Baker, Maria Karppinen, Valtteri Melkko, Odile Ehrbar, Mickael Fandi, Jean-François Maire, Michel Beretz, Ville Keränen and Anu Manner! Our initial idea with Malla was to list 54 reasons why growing old is great as we celebrated our 28 + 26 birthdays which makes 54 years of life. However, we've just invented 50 reasons so far…so may the list continue from now on, from year to year! Editor's note: Please pay attention to the flow of points, they do get brighter as the list gets longer. And some, eg. #16 - #19 are directly connected to each other. The crowd sourcing method used so far was dinner table conversations, but you can participate online too by commenting this Slideshare presentation. Ps. Who knows a tool like Slideshare that allows instant updating online? I don't know, so this is a fixed version 1.0.

1. 54 REASONS WHY GROWING OLD IS GREAT!
This is a cowdsourced database for reasons why growing old is great. It was made for celebrating the anniversaries of
my friend Malla and me in June 2012.
Thanks for everyone who contributed to this so far, especially Saana Härkönen, Petrikki Tukiainen, Thomas Baker, Maria
Karppinen,Valtteri Melkko, Odile Ehrbar, Mickael Fandi, Jean-François Maire, Michel Beretz,Ville Keränen, Ibrahim Oda
and Anu Manner! Our initial idea with Malla was to list 54 reasons why growing old is great as we celebrated our 28 +
26 birthdays which makes 54 years of life. However, we've just invented 50 reasons so far…so may the list continue from
now on, from year to year!
Editor's note: Please pay attention to the flow of points, they do get brighter as the list gets longer. And some, eg. #16 -
#19 are directly connected to each other. The crowd sourcing method used so far was dinner table conversations, but
you can participate online too by commenting this Slideshare presentation. Ps. Who knows a tool like Slideshare that
allows instant updating online? I don't know, so this is a fixed version 1.0.
Here we go: Marja Heinistö on the left and me on the
right in the wonderful company of Guillemette Duzan
(in the middle). Pic taken in Villejuif, Paris, in June 2007.
All contributions for the list are welcome to me and
Malla.
marja.heinisto@gmail.com & henna@banana.fi
Have fun reading and add yours!
19. elokuuta 12

2. 54 REASONS WHY GROWING
OLD IS GREAT!
#1 You've had time to do many fun adventures!
#2 along the way you've got to know a lot of fun people and you know that the
world is full of them.
#3 Along time whatever grows, us too. Just like in this great illustration by Timo
Lehtonen.
#4 You learn to deal with life better.
#5 Every year I feel happier!
#6 The older you get the happier you are being still young.
#7 You don't care so much of the opinions of other people.
19. elokuuta 12

3. 54 REASONS WHY GROWING
OLD IS GREAT!
#8 You can be more yourself.
#9 To me 30 is the new 20!
#10 Old is the new young!
#11 I might get a temple…
#12 Being old is not fashionable but fashion sucks anyway.
#13 It means moving forward.
#14 You can do everything you try.
#15 Everything is possible still.
19. elokuuta 12

4. 54 REASONS WHY GROWING
OLD IS GREAT!
#16 Your ability to gauge gets better.
#17 …or worse.
#18 …or stays equal.
#19 I'd like to believe that it gets better!
#20 You learn to eat new things, like olives, and enjoy different culinary experiences.
#21 You learn to recognize, differentiate and drink different beers.
#22 Your views get brighter, although the ability of seeing gets worse. (This was
originally in Finnish: "Katsontakannat kirkastuvat, vaikka näkökyky heikkenee.")
19. elokuuta 12

5. 54 REASONS WHY GROWING
OLD IS GREAT!
#23 You can buy what you want, at least with a credit card.
#24 You can buy your own palace, or place.
#25 You learn new things, eg. about 5.1 sound surround systems existence and use in
music industry.
#26 With the girls you get to want a certain type.
#27 You don't hang out with anybody anymore.You get to know what you like and
what you don't like.
#28 Your taste gets better.
#29 You can become more rounded, not so edgy.
19. elokuuta 12

6. 54 REASONS WHY GROWING
OLD IS GREAT!
#30 You're generally with more patience and less anxiety.
#31 Age is a feeling, I can be old or young in spirit anytime.
#32 Maybe at the age of 17 you were prettier, but now you are more beautiful and
when you are over 40 you are just gorgeous!
#33 You become more self confident.
#34 There is more of you. (maybe)
#35 When you get older you can cheat easier. (humm, not that nice point this one!)
#36 People don't question your sayings.
19. elokuuta 12

7. 54 REASONS WHY GROWING
OLD IS GREAT!
#37 You've got more credit.
#38 You can smile more beautifully.
#39 You share more experiences.
#40 You get to strengthen your relationships and recognize your true friends.
#41 You learn to trust your intuition more and more, and act accordingly.
#42 When you turn older your kids do the same.
#43 Everything is getting more simple.
#44 You utilize your memories.
19. elokuuta 12

8. 54 REASONS WHY GROWING
OLD IS GREAT!
#45 You grow with other people.
#46 You can apply for being a politician (election).
#47 You are getting closer to founding a family and deepening your family
relationships.
#48 You have done more.
#49 More reasons to be proud of what / who you are.
#50 More is better than less, or?
19. elokuuta 12

9. #51You have a bigger baggage of life stories - nothing beats high age.
#52 Understanding the world becomes easier.
#53 Taking a rest once in a while becomes more meaningful and more delightful, life
gets more rich in things you focus at.
#54 You have no choise.
19. elokuuta 12

10. THANKS FOR THE
CONTRIBUTIONS!
And thanks for all those great b-day wishes and
presents!
May the list continue...share your reasons with:
henna@banana.fi & marja.heinisto@gmail.com
@hennamonkey & @marjaheinisto
19. elokuuta 12