The compensations of old age 

Sometimes the old brain doesn’t kick in so quickly as it used to. Salvor Dali wrote about one technique he used to come up with ideas again . He simply takes a nap with a key or piece of cutlery in his hand, resting your arm so the key is above a plate or glass. 

When he nods off the key falls and the noise jolts him awake. He quickly scribbles whatever was in his head at that moment. Which probably explains some of his paintings. 

Somerset Maugham  looks at it a different way he says: ‘It occurred to me that the greatest compensation  of old age is it’s freedom of spirit. I suppose that is accompanied by a certain indifference to many of the things that man thinks are of prime importance.

Another compensation  is that it liberates you from envy, hatred and malice I do not  believe that I envy anyone. I have made the most that I could of such gifts as nature has provided me with. I do not envy the greater gifts of others. I have had a great deal of success. I do not envy the success of others … I no longer mind what people think of me. They can take me or envy me’