Age Truly is just a Number in the 2020s

Anyone who has turned the corner on 60 and who maintains a positive lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and a daily physical fitness routine on their own or under the direction of certified personal trainer, realizes they are not the same person their grandparents were when they were in their 60s.

Decades ago, once you turned 60 it wasn’t uncommon to slow down drastically, to allow weight gain to take place, and preventable ailments like cardiovascular disease to kick in. Back then, people smoked like a chimney, and they ate anything they craved. In those days, age wasn’t just a number. It was a countdown to how many days you had left to live.

But in the 2020s, the notion of “getting old” has been flipped on its head. New attitudes about staying young both emotionally and physically have infiltrated our culture in a positive way.

Plus, modern medicine has made it possible to push back the effects of aging by many years. In a word, 60 really is the new 40.

According to recent report by Seasons , a retirement community publication, at base, your age is a number the represents how long you’ve lived on earth. While the number is directly related to the calendar, it in no way defines who you are as a person and what you’ve achieved or can achieve. It’s possible to achieve amazing things at any age. It’s even possible to change your life completely.

If you’ve encountered situations or people who would rather see you “acting your age,” you should be immediately suspicious of them. It’s your job to live the happiest, healthiest, most independent lifestyle you can both physically and emotionally, regardless of naysayers who will attempt to bring you down and regardless of who you might upset along the way.

You have one life to live. Live it to its fullest for you, not for anyone else. This is a part of the positive aging process.

Defining Positive Aging

The concept of positive aging refers to nurturing a positive lifestyle and outlook. This includes keeping fit and stayin g healthy, feeling emotionally good about yourself, and embracing life and all its changes as you grow older.

Positive aging is the mentality that age really is a number designated by the calendar, and that a person can live their best life regardless of who attempts to criticize them, even if they are family members who are loved and cared for.

Here are some ways to maintain positive aging.

Foster a Healthy Social Life

Several studies prove a direct link between social relationships in older adults and positive aging. The people who maintain active social lives are far more likely to stay healthy and strong. They will also experience less depression and anxiety. It’s important to spend more quality time with like-minded friends as you age.

Keep Your Brain Busy

If you’re sitting on the couch from morning till night watching TV, you are rotting your brain and aging rapidly. But if you are reading, writing, solving crosswords, you will not only be keeping your brain sharp, but you will be improving your memory.

Get Physical

Regular exercise is the best way to reduce stress, build strength, increase stamina, maintain your balance, and protect your fully functional brain. There is a direct link between mental and physical health.

Studies prove that an interrelationship exists between the act of exercising and your overall mental health since it triggers endorphins and dopamine which gives you a sense of joy and calm. It’s the same feeling you get when you have sex—something older adults need to keep clearly in mind.

Do Whatever Makes You Happy

When people actively engage in healthy activities that bring them pure joy, they will come to realize that the number of your age doesn’t matter. That’s because your outlook on life will be positive.

Older adults should take advantage of new relationships, travel the globe, volunteer, learn a new language, write a book, start a new business, find a new place to live, and on and on. The possibilities are said to be endless.

If you aren’t happy in your present relationship, it’s time to shed it and to move on to brighter horizons. If your adult child is a burden, you can love them, but from a distance. It’s okay to do these things. You need to take care of you before you can be any use to anyone else.

The solution is simple. Do what makes you happy regardless of those closest to you who aren’t approving for one reason or another. Find what gives you purpose and gives you joy and go after it with all you’ve got. Be kind to people along the way. It will make you feel good.

Age…it really is a number when you realize the endless possibilities for creating a new, positive life as your get older. But it’s also your last chance at getting it right.

Mary Clark is a recently retired and decorated Colonel in the New York State Troopers. One of

the highest-ranking female law enforcement officials in New York State, she served for more than

three decades. Today she devotes herself to helping others achieve their life goals through a

combination of physical fitness, achieving an optimal mindset, and life balance.