The Joys of Aging Positively

The good news is you are around long enough to be aging! (As 'they' say, it beats the alternative.)

As I age I notice older people around me and how they live their lives, and it's fascinating!

Some of you live your life to its fullest, some of you act older than you need to and sadly, some of you have health issues that may interfere with what you really would like to do.

I have had the lovely experience lately of being around people my age and a decade or two older and I have been so impressed.

If you ski, look around at the others on the slopes. Really look. You will see men and women in their 70's and 80's swooshing down the mountain. It's quite impressive and I want to be like them!

What are these happy souls doing that so many of you aren't doing? I know they are not in perfect condition either. One woman I was with wore a knee brace while skiing, came back to the condo, iced it, went to the hot tub for the heat. Then came back and iced it again. Nothing is going to keep her from not skiing. She is 76 years old and can ski faster than me. I only skied 5 days, she skied 6.

She is a spunky, funny, bright woman who isn't going to stop skiing, and windsurfing, playing tennis and golf and all the other fun things she does till she is in her grave. Her words.

I have another friend at the gym that is in her late 70's or early 80's. I know she is a strong swimmer, even in open water. She said she was training for a triathlon, her 16th. I asked her if she had partners for the triathlon: One to run and another to ride the bike. She looked at me and said "Oh no, Kim, I do all three!" She couldn't have started doing these triathlons till she was in her late 50's early 60's.

Impressive.

So what do these hearty souls have that so many of us do not?

This is what I observed: • Spunk • Intelligence • Positive and uplifting attitudes • Persistence and commitment • Happiness • Good relationships and friendships • They don't care what other people think • They push themselves to be their best (bad knees and all) • A true zest for life • Optimism • And much much more

I think the truth of the matter is that you have so much control over your lives and how you live them. You have choices to make every day. You can't place blame for not living your best life. Only you are responsible.