I live in a mixed community of young and old, singles, families and seniors. I’m often asked why I haven’t moved into a 55 and older community. I simply laugh and say, because I’m 36. In my mind, I’m even younger. How old are you? Not, what’s your age, but how old are you? There is a difference.
If you were to tell me you hike, attend concerts, mountain bike, and go line dancing, I could guarantee you that you are young mentally if not in body. If you were to tell me you watch television, read books, go to dinner, and work on puzzles… well, I’d say you have slowed down, and although mentally capable, your body has given your age away. Why do I say this? Because when we stop doing the activities we did when we were young, we start aging and become old. There’s no nice way to say it. It is what it is. Just think about it.
What activities did you do when you were in your twenties, thirties and forties? Oh, I know this is a generalization of aging and can’t be applied to everyone. But go ahead, think about what you did when you were at those ages, and ask yourself if you do them now. What did you love to do but wouldn’t dare do now? For me, ice skating comes to mind. Not that I couldn’t physically do it, but mentally I know that if I were to fall, I could break a hip and that would stop me from doing all the things I’m doing right now. . . all the “young” things.
The other day I was talking to my husband and stated my concern that we were not living up to our potential. His eyebrow lifted, followed by a chuckle. “Speak for yourself,” he replied. Well, I wasn’t living up to my potential, I guess. Five years ago, I was hiking, power walking, being adventurous. But then life and responsibilities interrupted my life, and I put activities that I enjoyed aside. I pointed out to my husband that I wasn’t ready to grow old and that we needed to get back to doing things we used to do. Again, the chuckle.
“Like what?” he asked.
“Like going to concerts, dancing, rafting, travel . . .” I waited for his response.
“Like when we were in our 20’s?”
Of course, I answered in the affirmative. After all, in my mind, I’m still 36. So, it makes sense to go back to my twenties for these examples. He shook his head at me.
Okay, maybe I just want to be more active than we are now. But here’s where I’m going with this. I believe you’re as young as the activities you do. Don’t believe me? Have you seen Rod Stewart in concert? He’s 81! If he can still do the splits or even prance across a stage without a walker, I want to be him! Or the Rolling Stones, same thing! I want to be M and J Brown, marathoners (seniors) who hike the Grand Canyon at night! I want to walk the Amalfi Coast, take photos of the national parks, ride a horse into the sunset, and be active with my grandchildren till I’m 80. (Everyone has their limits) I want to embrace life and be as active as I can until I can’t. I want that when an author asks me, how old are you, I can say I’m thirty years younger than I am. Don’t you? Because the reality is, when you stop doing young activities, you let the “old man in,” as Clint Eastwood would say. You begin aging faster than you ever thought possible.
I’m not afraid of growing old, or even think it’s a bad thing. I just know that there is so much in this big world I want to see and do, and if I start giving up activities now, there’s a good chance that I won’t get to experience even the simplest activities on my “Bucket List.” So, the question is still out there, from me to you . . . How old are you? Now what are you going to do about it?
