For the next six months, 6 to 60 I will be highlighting my basic philosophies on exercise, food and mental spirit. I’m calling the collection “Works for Me: The Art of Being 60,” a survivor’s handbook on health and wellness.
According to certain dictionaries the title “senior” can be bestowed upon individuals at age 60 or 65. What does that mean? Should we relinquish our old patterns for new ones, carry on as before or band together for a revolution? Whatever your outlook is I’m hoping to both challenge and embrace the number, all from the viewpoint of wellbeing.
Ok, let’s get this party started, Part 1: “Coming to grips with the number.”
Geez if you had asked me a couple decades ago what I thought about age 60, my first reaction would be retirement. As an individual who is soon to be sixty but a long way from retirement, the conundrum sets in. There are plenty of anecdotes on 60, its’ the new fifty, the start of the golden years or a grey-haired citizen.
No matter how you slice it, the number doesn’t change. That’s the first come to grips moment. There are individuals who prefer not to state their age, a personal choice. I decided to hit it head on. Somehow hiding being older a) seems like too much work and b) I’ve invested heavily in terms of my experience to get to this place.
One of many reasons for doing this 6 to 60 special focus is that our society is often quite age-discriminatory. Especially here in the US, we tend to accentuate and aspire to the young body and wrinkle-less face. Youth is often chosen over experience in the workplace. Older women and men can take severe punishment in the press over their “mature” looks.
Thus, titles (maybe stereotypes) are dished out right and left to individuals within the senior community. Not only do looks frequently get discussed in a negative fashion, seniors are often thought of as lacking brain power and physical prowess. Coming to grips with the number of one’s age can help withstand some of the pressure of being labeled old. (There I said it I’m old, yikes!)
But here’s the BUT, it does not have to completely define us. You can still have an interesting life, be active and moreover contribute to the community. Thus, owning the number of one’s age means not allowing others to put you in box.
This might require speaking up louder, continuing to participate in activities that allow for multiple ages and placing a big emphasis on taking care of you to remain active. We can be the number but not be ruled by previous or society’s definition of what they think it should be.
Coming to grips with the number does not mean that everything that goes along with that age is easy, fun or what you anticipated. There are plenty of challenges, the art is trying to find ways that diminish the negatives and allow one to stay more often on the positive side. And giving yourself the freedom to realize some days you do it better than others. There are no smiley faces or medals, except right here.☺
Personal note
Over the decades I’ve found throwing myself back into a learning/educational program of some kind to be extremely beneficial as an “age combatant.” While I understand not everyone has the time or finances to do this I think there are plenty of low-cost options within this realm. It does not have to be a full out program but even taking a class at a local community college, language center or specialized certification program is great for connecting up with various age groups and utilizing your brain in a new way.
For me personally while it was not intended I’ve done a major type of program every ten years. At age 40 I went back to school as the visiting professor in dance at Indiana University and at the same time got my MS in Kinesiology. At age 50 I completed my MBA at USF in San Francisco. At age 60 I’ll be working on another comprehensive certification program.
Each of these situations threw me completely out of my “normal” routine and forced me to be among individuals much younger than myself. It was brutally humbling, super challenging work and outrageously rewarding all at the same time. Bottom line is being in a learning environment that allows one to use their experience, be part of a different community and in general feel like you still have something to contribute, all the while sharpening your mental and physical skills is a win in my book.
Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.
Betty Friedan
Stay tuned next up: Part 2: “Being OK that not everyone likes you.”
