Aging Your Way

“Aging is out of your control. How you handle it though, is in your hands.”

I read this quote recently from Diane Von Furstenberg and was intrigued. There are a myriad of articles on Pinterest and online in general on the topic of aging gracefully, aging well, is sixty the new forty etc.

I began researching the topic after three incidents that occurred this past weekend. On Friday night, my No Pressure Book club got into a discussion about our aging bodies and certain changes which sometimes make us feel old and limited. We talked about how it is difficult to accept at times. Now, I am the elder in the group, the other members in their early fifties and early sixties!

On Saturday, I came to the realization that getting up from a low beach chair is no longer an easy feat for me, which was quite disconcerting! On Sunday, at a party, a new friend and I shared a secret that we had trouble arising from a standard toilet. We each have installed a high one in the bathroom. Enough said.

According to psychologists, the key to “aging gracefully” is to accept the fact that life does not stay the same and that, yes, aging can change the way we live our lives. Attitude matters a lot and if you let the negative aspects get to you, you’ll have fewer reasons to laugh. Accepting the fact that we aren’t as strong boned as we were and preparing for lifestyle changes that come with it can make aging easier to manage.

Understanding this has helped me change from Zumba classes 3 times a week to Aquafit classes which are easier on my knees. I finally accept the inevitable stiffness upon arising in the morning and try to stretch before my daily walk ( although it is not easy to get up off the floor). And at a recent wedding, I did my moves on the dance floor until my hip told me it was time. I continued “chair dancing” for the latter part of the evening. We need to make these accommodations for our changing bodies, like it or not!

In the article, Four Qualities That Help You Embrace Aging, Stephanie Raffelock talks about the word crone meaning crown and explains that an important advantage of aging is that the mark of being an elder is the crowning glory of your wise age.

As my eight year old grandson Jesse eloquently tells me “Nana, you know everything because you have lived so long!” I’m glad he thinks I’m so smart.

“You know more stuff now about what it means to fully be a human being than ever before. You’ve experienced grief, loss, failure and pain and you are still standing. You’ve learned how to hold life’s suffering and life’s joy side by side”. And you can pass this wisdom on.

Oprah Winfrey says “if you are blessed enough to grow older, there is so much to learn from people who are celebrating the process with vigor and grace”.

So adjust your attitude and don’t waste precious time fighting time. Practice these 9 things that people aging well believe are beneficial.

1. Work out to get strong not skinny. Strength and resistance training is important to build muscle and help you stay strong and independent as you age.
2. Stress less. Stress can cause aging on a cellular level, sleepless nights, skin dehydration and hair loss.
3. Let go of regrets and grudges. Consider meditating to be in the moment.
4. Learn something new each day. Stay curious and try something different. One study showed that older adults who took up a new activity for 3 months showed considerable improvements in memory compared with those who did familiar activities. I plan to learn Tai Chi.
5. Don’t overdo it with makeup. Enhance the positive rather than covering up the negative.
6. Stay positive. Complaining about your age won’t make you any younger. Choosing positive thoughts can bring benefits such as better coping skills, a better immune system and a longer life.
7. Get enough sleep. 8 to 9 hours.
8. Eat and drink for your health. The idea that you are what you eat is definitely true especially as you age.
9. Embrace your changing looks. Go silver if you dare or just be you!

“Your body is your best friend. It is the vessel that carries you through this physical world. So nurture and nourish your body. Embrace healthy habits, positive thoughts, nutritional food and daily movement. Your body tells the story of your life. So write the story you want to live! Aging Beautifully Cards, Margaret Manning.

Thanks for reading this post. I appreciate all of you! Let me know if there is a topic you would like me to address. Until next week….. Penny

Resources

What Does it Mean to Age With Grace in Your Sixties, by Joan Frances Moran sixtyandme.com

Four Qualities that Help You Help You to Embrace Aging by Stephanie Raffelock

Nine Things People Aging Well Do Differently, everydayhealth.com

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