We would all love to think we are aging gracefully. But are we? What is your self-image, and how do you feel about growing older? Are you taking the steps for self-care necessary to age gracefully? Aging gracefully isn’t about youthful appearance. It’s not about grasping onto what was, but embracing what is. It’s about acceptance, lifestyle choices, and adapting to the changes that accompany the aging process.
Accepting the many changes that occur in the aging process can be difficult. Looking in the mirror and seeing the wrinkles, sagging skin, and grey hair can be shocking. How and when did this happen? It is all about perception and mindset. I remember wishing I was always older than my age. A chronological number defined the stages of adulthood, parenthood, and career. Each stage came with changes I welcomed and adopted.
Why are the changes brought on by the last ⅓ of our lives so difficult to accept? Ive read comments on this very question, and the answers are varied. One person said, “When you get old your body betrays you.” Unfortunately, this is a mindset that many carry into their senior years. It is the kind of thinking that prevents aging gracefully.
Just like other stages of life, growing older has challenges and requires change. Aging gracefully emphasizes what’s on the inside and less on the outside. It calls for a focus on redefining our roles as parents, friends, partners, and employees. It’s a time to let go of things that no longer serve a purpose. It’s a time to redefine and set new realistic goals for ourselves and others. It’s a time to learn new ways of doing things by opening up to never-before possibilities. It’s a time to adopt a positive attitude, be grateful, and tap into our wisdom.
Yes, I said wisdom. The Roman philosopher Cicero said, “For there is assuredly nothing dearer to a man than wisdom, and though age takes away all else, it undoubtedly brings us that.”
We can find no scientific proof that old age guarantees wisdom. However, rich life experiences lend themselves to producing “crystallized intelligence.” That is “a person’s general knowledge, vocabulary, and reasoning based on acquired information.” (https://link.springer.com). This wisdom forms the basis for aging gracefully.
Who knows us better than ourselves? We have all the hidden knowledge within us to reflect on an aging lifestyle. We take our life wisdom and combine it with aging gracefully. We create daily routines around holistic aging practices because we choose self-care. We make ourselves accountable for our lifestyle choices. We focus on aging naturally.
Aging gracefully is about attitude and mindset. We choose to be present in the moment. We don’t put energy in the past, because it’s gone. We can’t change it. It’s an illusion. Nor do we worry about the future. None of us is guaranteed a tomorrow, so worrying about what might happen, is a waste of time and energy. Living life in the moment, letting go, and practicing acceptance are all holistic aging practices for optimum wellness.
Lastly, a cornerstone of aging gracefully is gratitude. When we appreciate our daily riches, our attitude follows. Maintaining a positive attitude leads to acceptance. Our ability to accept the aging process and embrace the changes with a positive attitude and appreciation for daily riches defines aging gracefully.
The wisdom in aging gracefully is in all of us. Silver Chats believes this is the time for us to flourish and discover the endless possibilities of aging! Join us each week. Let’s chat!