I had an interesting conversation with my baby sister Eileen.  She was perplexed after receiving unsolicited advice from two strangers. A person who was slowly pushing a shopping cart and blocking the isle in the market looked at her and said, “You don’t want to get old.”  On the second occasion, someone walking with mobility support looked at her and said, “Don’t get old.”  Eileen said she looked at them sympathetically, murmured something but had no real response.  Obviously, none of us wakes up one day to discover that we have suddenly gotten old.  In addition, we surely cannot stop the aging process.  Eileen understood they were telling her to ‘take care of yourself now so you don’t end up like me later.’ She thinks they were simply expressing their frustration with their current situation.  Eileen said the encounters left her reflecting on what it means to think of oneself as being old.

At 64 years young, Eileen does not consider herself to be old, a senior citizen or an elder.  Perhaps in another 40 years she will, but not now.  To Eileen her 60’s is the new 30’s. She says she playfully teases the youngsters, that they are getting older and she is not.  Eileen has declared that this year she will transition from full-time employment to retirement.  Her number one priority is to take care of her physical and mental health so that her retirement can be all that she would like it to be.  She looks for activities to keep her brain sharp and has started juicing and eating healthier.  Eileen says when she has aches and pains she thinks, “Oh no I’m not moving enough.” She then cranks up the music and dances. Eileen’s hobbies are gardening and sewing.  She jokingly says sewing is sedentary but her gardening balances it out.  She also takes frequent breaks when sewing to ride her stationary bike or she gets busy with her hula-hoop. 

Eileen will be retiring from the rewarding but high stress profession of Nursing.  Her latter years as a School Nurse were particularly stressful due to the COVID-19 epidemic.  She looks forward to a slower more relaxed pace.  Eileen plans to balance her love of caring for others with her own personal enjoyment and creativity.  She looks forward to having the freedom to decide how she will spend her day.  Eileen says she is excited and envisions a retirement full of days riding her bicycle with husband Eric, sitting in solitude in her secret garden, sewing, gardening, family time, learning new things, traveling, pursuing new interests/activities and taking good care of herself.  Eileen says she will take it day by day and that she will Age Gracefully.

Personally, I find inspiration from others also traveling the path of aging to be of great value to me.  I am inspired to Age Healthy by our friends Jimmy and Beverly.  They are retired, athletic, urban farmers, mentors and the most generous people we know.  I am inspired to Age Happy by my friends at Fraim Center for Active Adults (shout out to my water volleyball tribe... hey Bobbie!)   I am inspired to Age Connected by retired family members and close friends that we spend time and share adventures with. I am inspired to Age Smart by blogger Kathy Gottberg @ https://www.smartliving365.com/.  I am inspired to Age Well by Podcaster Hugh Willard @ https://www.findingbeautyinthegray.com/.  I am inspired to Age Informed by blogger Maricia Johns @ https://thisisyourbestyear.com/.    

I am inspired to Age Gracefully by sister Eileen and to take it day by day.

Until next time,

Amanda😎

Thumbnail Photo by Elina Fairytale: https://www.pexels.com/photo/life-is-now-neon-signage-3811074/