I’m a Baby Boomer, born in 1953. I work at a major university in NY as a Sr. Career Coach. One of the absolute best things I do is engage with young people. Students and colleagues. It is a gift.
Despite my 72 years and some health issues, I am what you would call “a good 72”.
I am a high-energy person. I am not, nor have I ever been, good at sitting still. I love being busy.
Age is our reality. Other than enjoying your ride, there is nothing you can do about it. It is an ingredient in life, an accessory that we can wear or foolishly try to disregard. Success in aging is accepting who you are and managing YOU. Changes that connect to age are as obvious as can be. We become a step slower. We might not process as fast as we used to. Our memory (and hair) recedes. Our muscles can weaken. Skin quality can change. The one that gets me is that our joints need more grease. (Standing up should be easy!!!) Changes in the heart, weight, senses, and sleep habits are all part of the aging process. Aging is a force of nature and again, I say – There isn’t anything we can do.
Do not just tolerate aging. Do not resist it. Embrace it. Do not shrug it off – Welcome it. Absorb age. Wear it like a badge of courage. Lean into your age. What it represents is EXPERIENCE. Your years provide knowledge, awareness, and a mind full of information. Age represents LIFE, development, maturity, and cultural context. Perspective can help. It is not about decline. Quite the contrary, it is all about how you move forward in life.
I always strive for 100% in all that I do, but as you lose a step, slow down, lose skill and ability, that 100% might shift to a 90, and that should be acceptable. If I can’t be 100%, I’m cool with that because I’m a damn good 90.
