Getting Old? It’s All in Your Head

This slap is for all of us on the backside of 55. It’s about feeling old, which is right up there with worrying about the weather.

You may have started feeling old when you got the first invitation to join AARP…

Or when you caught yourself saying or doing something just like your parents…

Or when you realized you didn’t have the same “zip” you use to have. You know, your knees ache or you lose a step.

Your forehead might be getting bigger, or a cute waiter or waitress gives you the “grandparent treatment.”

All of us have had that moment when we felt old or older (not necessarily ancient). And in this culture, there is nothing redeeming about getting old.

Recently, I was in a restaurant with a friend, waiting for a seat at the bar to have dinner. When two seats opened, the bartender told us two young women were waiting for the seats. One of the girls said, “Oh no, sir, you can have the seat.”

Sir? Me? Did she think I needed to sit down? That was one of my moments.

The fact is, when we feel and act old, it’s often because it is expected of us when we reach a certain age. But most doctors will tell you it’s all about attitude. The younger you feel in your head, the better your health and life satisfaction will be.

A Pew study found that 60% of adults older than 65 report feeling much younger than their age. And the gap between our real age and how we feel increases as we get older. We feel younger in our heads.

And we still undermine our well-being when we say things like, “I had a senior moment,” or when we compare ourselves with younger people and marginalize our importance.

When what we should be doing is focusing on our generational identity – not our age – and forgetting the stereotypes that come with age.

Yes, ageism is alive and well in our culture. We have all seen it and experienced it. But we don’t have to let it to limit us. Ageism is their problem, not ours.

When I look at the world today, I see so many things that need to be improved. And who better to do it than the people with 50 and 60 years of life experience under their belts and a lifetime of street wisdom?

So stop with the “senior moment” stuff already. Get out there and continue to change the world. It sure beats getting old!

Lucky Lou had it right when he said that getting old isn’t bad, but being old sucks!

Good investing,

Steve