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Aging Well – The Choice is Ours
by Nancy Carman, MA, CMC
Contributed by MyGuide For Seniors
A recent article in The New York Times eulogized William Coates, America's oldest man, who died this past February 23rd at the age of 114. He was described as a man who “enjoyed life and being with his family.” Even as recently as four years ago, he was still charming the ladies at local senior events. If you think that Mr. Coates' longevity is an isolated event, think again.
Currently there are more than 50,000 centenarians – individuals who live to age 100 and beyond – in the United States. Demographers expect by the year 2050 that number will explode to over 800,000, thanks to the Baby Boomers (those individuals who were born between 1946 and 1964).
Many geriatricians believe that the potential human life span is close to 120 years. A major component of reaching this extremely ripe old age is the avoidance of accidents and disease. Most people, who shudder at the thought of living to 100, don't actually fear the number of candles on their birthday cake as much as they fear falling victim to illness and disability. Even so, many older adults embrace their later years with thankfulness and true enjoyment. Whether you fall into one camp or another, the fact remains that being old is not synonymous with being sick.
There is no magic elixir to keep one forever young, only an attitude of youthfulness, regardless of age. Take Mr. Coates for example. You know these people; in fact, you may be one of them! Is there someone that you admire – a friend, parent, or grandparent – who exudes a spark, a “can do” attitude? Chances are, they are not afraid of the aging process – better yet, they are doing everything possible to ensure a positive aging experience.
The mind is a powerful force, and often our perceptions become our reality. If we think that growing old is filled with decline and disability, quite likely we will follow that path. In contrast, if we think of aging as a time of self-discovery and positive reflection, we may find a new journey awaits us.
Take, for example, Grandma Moses, who began her career as a celebrated artist at age 75! From then, until her death at age 101, Grandma Moses created approximately 1,600 paintings, with more than 200 of them painted after she hit her 100th birthday!
While most of us are not Grandma Moses, we can still choose to experience aging as a positive phase of our life. By not buying into the “myths” of aging, purported by our youth-oriented society, we can continue to value our individual strengths, skills and life accomplishments – the choice is ours.
This article was reproduced with the permission of MyGuide For Seniors
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