It is ironic that many people enjoy having birthdays, but many of those people do not enjoy getting older. If we look at aging through the nearsighted lens of our youth-oriented society, birthdays suggest that we are losing value.
It is true that getting older has its challenges, but it also provides rewards. What follows are some reminders from Shirley VanDyke and WebMD that may help dispel the negative stereotypes of aging, so we can grasp just how amazing it is to be and become older:
You Are Wiser: Aging has a wonderful reward: wisdom. Humans learn from experience. So, as we age, the learning curve becomes less steep. We have a cache of wisdom to draw from.
You Are More Mellow: Coping skills have become better. We can embrace “it is what it is,” do what the moment calls for, rather than complain that it should be different. Lenny Bruce said that what should be is a fantasy.
You Are Confident: Later years can be a time to enjoy the benefits of experience from a life lived. Experience can give us the confidence to try anything, the serenity to know when to sit and watch, and the wisdom to know the difference (with apologies to Reinhold Niebuhr).
You Are Your Own Person: The days of identity crises are past. You know what you like and don’t like, and you are able to express that without fear of repercussion. In addition, it is liberating to realize that the way people respond is often a reflection of their own insecurities.
You Are More Motivated: With age, one grows increasingly aware of the preciousness of time as well as desire to use that time more wisely. You have an opportunity to do what you’ve always wanted to do–you may want to go to college, try your hand at bocce ball, or volunteer at a hospital. Staying active can help promote good health and extend life.
Aging is inevitable, but you can help make that aging process a more amazing adventure.
Sources:
VanDyke, S. 2003. Positive Aspects of Aging. Senior Series. SS-209-03 Ohio State University Extension. Downloaded from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download doi=10.1.1.295.9429&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Watson, S. 50+: Live better, live longer. Downloaded from http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/power-play
