Aging Well vs Aging Poorly – What is the Missing Ingredient?

Aging Well vs. Aging Poorly – What is the Missing Ingredient?

Have you ever thought of yourself as “old?” Has anyone called you “old?” Have you ever joked about what it’s like to be “growing old?” Does the thought of “growing old” scare you? And how old is “old?” I like the title of one book, Old Age Is Always 15 Years Older Than I Am.

What thoughts or images pop into your mind when you think about “growing old?” Mental and physical decline? Confusion and memory loss? Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia? A walker or wheelchair? Weakness and disease? Moving into an assisted living or nursing home facility?

It’s no wonder the thought of “growing old” scares us. We have very real fears about “growing old.” Fear of loss – we fear losing our spouse, our minds, our health, our independence. Fear of being obsolete, useless and no longer needed. We fear having nothing of value to offer any more. We fear being lonely and depressed.

We all know someone “older” who has struggled with one or more of these fears and infirmities. Perhaps it is someone close to us – a parent or grandparent. Watching them slowly or rapidly decline fills us with a deep sense of sadness and a secret fear that might be our fate.

The truth is this: we are all aging. Yes, every last one of us. The last time you celebrated your birthday, you were one year “older” than the year before. Whether you are 10, 30, 50 or 80, it doesn’t matter, because we are all “aging.” But not all of us are “growing old.”

“Aging is inevitable, growing old is optional!

There is nothing we can do about aging. It is a natural process everyone experiences. We can either accept this inevitable change in our lives or get blindsided by it. Modern science and technology may be able to slow down the aging process. Proper diet and exercise may even help turn back our mental and physical biological clock. But, so far, Ponce de Leon’s mythical fountain of youth has proven evasive.

That still doesn’t mean we have to “grow old.” “Growing old” is a decision. It’s a mindset, or better yet, attitude. “Growing old” is a negative attitude or mindset that we choose to believe and accept. Where did that attitude/mindset come from?

Let’s see if you can fill in the blanks. “You know, now that you’ve turned 50, you are ‘over the ______!’ And that means you are ‘no spring _____________ anymore. You can’t expect to compete and keep up with the young folks, not at your _______. You need to be ‘put out to _______________!’ All you are good for now is a ‘rocking ___________.’” How did you do? Get them all? If you can fill in all those blanks, your mind has already been programmed to believe the lies you’ve been taught about aging. We’ve been programmed from little on to believe and accept the myths our modern culture perpetuates about growing old and the aging process.

In future blogs I will bust those myths about aging and share the truth based on current research in the fields of neuroscience and gerontology. I will point out examples of people (past and present) who have done amazing feats and have positively impacted the lives of others AFTER the age of 65. I will share stories of everyday people who are living exciting, productive lives and making a powerful difference in the world. They refuse to believe they are ‘over the hill!’ They still believe they have something of value to offer. They are focused and passionate and live life on purpose. They serve and give back and are making a difference in culture, society, the world at large, in a local community, a church or organization. They are changing neighborhoods and families. Or impacting the life of a single individual. Their stories will inspire you.

That is my goal for this blog. I want to inspire you. I want to light a fire inside you. I hope to help fill your life with passion, purpose and meaning. I want you to believe in yourself, the incredible wisdom and life experience you have. I know you have stories, wisdom and experience that can positively change lives. In my blogs I will share with you powerful, proven strategies that will add life to your years.

I have worked with thousands of people for almost 40 years as a pastor. I have concluded that the single most important factor that determines whether a person ages poorly or well is that person’s attitude or mindset. Some of the people I have encountered are inspiring. They have faced and overcome phenomenal challenges. They are feisty and sassy. They are positive and vibrant. They are the ones who are Aging With Attitude, which is the major theme of this blog and the Aging With Attitude Movement (AWAM) I am founding. I will share more about AWAM in a future blog. I will share their stories and the lessons we can learn from their lives.

I believe, over the course of reading my blogs and my upcoming book, Aging With Attitude – 10 Powerful Strategies That Will Add Life To Your Years, your thinking will shift. Your attitude and mindset toward aging will change. You will find yourself thinking and speaking positively about your life and future. You will begin to believe in yourself again, set new goals and dream new dreams. You will start thinking about what you can do, not what you can’t. You will look for opportunities to give back and help others. Life will be exciting and fun-filled with renewed purpose and passion.

Does that sound appealing? Then I invite you to join me on a positive and exhilarating journey as together we Age With Attitude!