Better Older than Deader

July is my birthday month and I marked a milestone this year. Then again, every birthday is a milestone isn’t it? I am fond of quips like “age is a frame of mind” and “better older than deader.” As long as I keep my frame fresh and continue to prefer living over dying, I plan to keep plugging along.

I am not fond of the way aging, in this culture at least, is seen as a problem to be solved and a process to be stopped. Not to mention the somewhat crazy lengths people take, and the money they pay, to not look their age. What is wrong with us? And I mean that in all the ways that might come to both of our minds right now.

I will cut us all some slack. This aging business is still a young concept in our history. In the late 1800’s, life expectancy was below 50 years. We are pretty new at all of this, but we can do better. Honoring and embracing those with more wisdom and experience seems like a win-win. Fighting and fearing a natural process that only occurs if we have been fortunate enough to stay living, in spite of near misses and close calls and the dangerous risks we have been known to take, holds us all back.

You’ve heard from me. How about hearing from a couple of others who sure seem to be aging positively and finding the humor in it as well.

First, this from comedian Ellen DeGeneres:

“Why do they say we’re over the hill? I don’t even know what that means and why it’s a bad thing. When I go hiking and I get over the hill, that means I am over the hard part—and there’s a snack in my future.”

Thank you Ellen! I am grateful to be mobile and have five senses that work so I can hike, bike, run, walk, see, hear, smell.

As I was doing a little more research about this aging gracefully stuff, I came across Dori Gillam. She is a writer, speaker, and storyteller in the Seattle area, especially focusing on the positive aspects of aging. One of the taglines on her website is: “Aging consciously and intentionally.” Being conscious is certainly a helpful start.

Here are some of her words, to add to the image at the top, and others I found on her website.

"How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?"

"The trouble with doing nothing is you never know when you're done. . ." (Anonymous)

"Age is not a four-letter word." (Dori Gillam)

"Fun . . . It never asks how old you are." (Facebook / Zen to Zany)

And a few more from my own list:

*Do I ever wish I was younger again? Sure–but only if I could take the wisdom and experience gained along the way back with me.

*I may not be as physically flexible as I used to be, but I am more emotionally resilient than ever.

*Best anti-aging technique–STAY HYDRATED! It is quite affordable as well. 

*The body part that I hope to never stop exercising and stretching–my brain :-)

I am looking forward to the new decade I have entered, and I am looking forward to today. After all, it is the only day we get. Onward!