1. Channel your emotions and the wonderment from different ages into the present and enjoy everything more.
One of my favorite sayings these last several decades is “Age is just a number.” I have a lot of credibility in this area as I am way older than I feel and act. So, my question for you today is: How old do you feel? Take a moment to think about it.
Did you come up with a specific age or range? Did you by chance think, Well it depends on what I’m doing? That’s my answer and I literally take this to heart.
When I’m dancing, I feel like I’m in my twenties. When I’m hiking, I feel like I’m in my thirties. When I see fireworks, I feel like I’m five. And when I’m writing, I like to feel like a wise old woman. So, live in the moment and be whatever age you want to be!
2. Don’t ever subscribe to your actual age.
Be careful as you think about getting older, because our society has placed so many negative stereotypes on aging. Don’t be influenced by them; keep your mind and body convinced that there are no limitations.
I’ve had a lot of wonderful chapters in my life, but the most unique one I embarked on 5 years ago was to get divorced, find a new love, and live full-time on a sailboat sailing the Caribbean. Friends think I’m crazy to give up all the comforts of land to live off the grid. But not me, even though this lifestyle is way harder than I imagined.
Recently, I was hiking in the volcanic islands of the Lesser Antilles. One hike involved forging creeks and boulder climbing. When I had to straddle a tree trunk on a 45-degree angle and crawl my way up to the next boulder, for the first time in my life I thought, You know, Carol, you may be getting too old for this.
However, the reward for this rainforest trek was a gigantic waterfall that bounded over a huge cliff through the air, hitting another cliff and crashing and cascading down the mountain ravine. It was spectacular! And I would do it all again. This also brings up the “use it or lose it” mentality.
3. Keep your body moving, even if you have physical limitations, do whatever you can to keep your body active and in the best shape you can be.
My friend Donnie, aka Great Grannie, was one of the top amateur golfers in Georgia. At 91 years old, she still plays 18 holes of golf regularly. That is, when she is not traveling around the world with her daughter. They take several long trips every year. Donnie is an inspiration and my heroine; I want to be like her when I grow up!
Another personal recommendation is to do yoga. My mom signed us up for a beginning class when I was l9 and gave me the gift of yoga for a lifetime. I believe doing yoga is one reason I have stayed physically young.
Find classes relative to your physical level even if it’s doing chair yoga, like my friend with muscular dystrophy does. And consider getting some light to medium dumbbells and do some basic weight training. Yoga and free weights are great anti-aging exercises!
4. Think limitlessly and be ageless: What do you want to do next?
For me, the answer is my chosen tagline, “Dive into Your Next Chapter.” What you do next might be life-altering like getting divorced or it might be as simple as starting a new hobby. Whatever you desire.
Seize the day—you’re not getting any younger you know! And I bet that when you do start a new chapter, you will feel younger and more vibrant.
5. We must all strive to keep our brains active by continually learning new things.
Hand in hand with diving into your next chapter is that you will learn something totally new! Another friend, Debi Jean, taught herself how to play guitar in her early sixties. She is now a prolific song writer, produces a weekly YouTube music series, and performs locally. It brings so much joy to her life.
To stay young, studies recommend keeping active in some form of art or creativity. There are so many options out there: paint, dance, write, sew, play music, sing, act, craft, cook, etc. Be brave and try something new; take a class or join a club. Be limitless in your thinking and keep learning as a life-long goal.
What else is possible in your life? What are you doing to stay young and playful?
