Aging and Societal Stereotypes

Just out of curiosity, I looked up the term "aging" in Webster's Dictionary...and I was appalled at the terms listed.

".....ancient, geriatric, over-the-hill, decrepit, doddering, senile..."

And the list goes on and on! Now, while at some point, a few of these terms might be medically accurate, they are used much too often to describe anyone over 50. I prefer to think of aging as the new saying goes, "old is getting younger every day". And it is.

With the medical technology we have today, people are living much longer than just a generation ago. My mom, who is 89, has long since outlived her parents, both of which died in their 60's. We now know so much more about how to take care of ourselves, how to eat right, what vitamins to take and how to take advantage of preventive medicine.

So people are living longer, but are they living better? Some would say yes. There are numerous well-known people out there who are in their 80's and still going strong, still enjoying successful careers, still contributing and enjoying life. So why do some of us think we should slow down, and become couch potatoes, letting the world pass us by?

When I retired (and I retired early), many people told me, "You'll be bored if you retire". I haven't had a boring day since retirement! I have had more time to get involved in the things I love, more time to enjoy my grandson. If anything, I am busier than I was when I worked, but its a kind of busy that revitalizes me and makes me happy! And I think that's how aging should be! We should embrace it, with all its aches and pains (we all have them), and get the very most out of life that we can. I don't want to be termed "ancient" or "doddering" or "over-the-hill". There may come a time when our bodies simply wear out, and those terms might apply. But until then, we should all be kicking up our heels (not literally, of course) and doing anything and everything we are big enough to do. This is our time to shine, our time to ROCK OUR AGE!