Depending on where you live in the World, you may have been taught to believe that aging is a dreadful thing. But when you think about it, there are lots of things that get better with age, like wine, cheese, leather, antiques, jeans, and YOU! In case you haven’t noticed, here are a few things about you that get better with age…confidence, wisdom, friendships, sex, storytelling, patience and believe it or not, there are so many more wonderful assets that come with your years in your skin. How you think about aging has a lot to do with how you experience it. Much of the time, how we think about things are influenced by what we think others will think.
When I turned 50, I was excited. I wanted to shout it out. There was this feeling of “hey, I’m 50 and I’m still movin’ and groovin’ and enjoying life.” I felt that way until a friend said, “Don’t tell people your age. They will think you’re old and treat you differently.” So I reluctantly kept it quiet. Heaven forbid if they thought I was old. Fortunately, by the time I reached 60, I began to learn about amazing seniors much older than me who were doing awesome things. People like Ida Keeling, the 105-year-old runner, Cicely Tyson, award-winning actress, who worked almost up until her death this year at 96, Johanna Quaas, the 95-year-old gymnast, Dr. Melissa Freeman, who still practices medicine at 95, and the baby of the bunch, Ernestine Shepherd, the oldest competitive bodybuilder at 85. Ernestine began working out at 56 and started bodybuilding at 71.
You may think these women are exceptions to the rule. Actually, the rule is that it’s never too late to do anything you desire, even if it’s just having the physical and mental wherewithal to run after your toddler grandchild. These women mentioned are our reminders that everything is possible. Rather than looking at the doom and gloom of aging, we have the ability to create a new dynamic for ourselves. You can have more time, more love, more adventure, and more fun! This is your opportunity to create your next chapter. Why not make it the best one yet?
At Awesome Aging, we are exploring, creating, and sharing ways to make these some of the best years of our lives. In the comments below, please share your thoughts about how you feel about your aging process. Please let me know what subjects you would like to see covered.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Make it a good day!
(This is a repost from February 2021)