Is 60 the New 30?

Here’s a slap for all those boomers who think they can fool Father Time and the retirement experts and advertisers who mislead them about age and appearance.

A recent article, “How to Make 60 the New 30,” about New Year’s resolutions and how to markedly improve your life in retirement in “five easy steps” really pushed a few of my buttons.

Most of the ideas were the usual: save more, drink less (yeah, like that’s going to happen), volunteer and give back more. You’ve heard them all before, I’m sure.

But the one concerning exercise was over the top.

Don’t get me wrong, depending on how much my back is bothering me, I play tennis, bike or do something five to six days a week. I am a big proponent of exercise, especially in retirement.

But what ticked me off about this article was that the author said those people who look 30 and are really 60 owe it to not just to good genes but exercise too.

Really?!

If you’re 60 and look 30, you owe it to a genius of a plastic surgeon, not genes or exercise. No one who’s 60 looks 30 – no human anyway.

Yes, I know some 60-year-olds look great, but 30? Come on! I didn’t look 30 when I was 30.

Granted, exercise will help preserve your looks… if you have the genes, if you use sunscreen – or better yet, stay out of the sun altogether – if you minimize stress (how do you minimize stress in this world?), if you manage to keep the pounds off… if, if and more ifs.

This “young forever” idea pushes too many folks our age into the belief that it is achievable. It is not; it is a lie.

The fact is we are all aging, and that means sags, bags, wrinkles, and aches and pains. I call it the “Post-60 Package.”

And for me, from a man’s perspective, there is nothing more attractive than an older woman who has obviously taken care of herself and is confident enough to look her age – or as close to it as she’ll allow.

Sorry, I can’t tell you how older guys look. I don’t look at them.

There’s enough pressure on us seniors from a world that seems to be run by and for 20- and 30-somethings. We don’t need more from the retirement press about looking young forever.

Oh, the one thing this article did say that was correct – and I encourage you to follow – is that if you exercise six days a week for one year, you will transform yourself physically, mentally and emotionally. It is the true fountain of youth.

But 30? Sorry, folks, that’s gone with the wind.

Actually, I love being older. I get away with so much more than I did when I was 30.

Good investing,

Steve