(first prize essay - 2023)
Here or heaven … pick one (and gratefully celebrate every birthday)
An optimistic mindset is the key to living longer and living well. Being conscious of having a positive outlook toward our increasing ages and potential aging issues is quite essential. Some of us Earthlings might benefit from adopting a fresh focus on how we form our words and thoughts surrounding the word old.
How much energy are you giving those three little letters?
As the years pass, we listen to the attitudes and thoughts of people around us toward aging. Have their attitudes changed? Yes! However, some are not adopting a better outlook. Their frames of mind are changing because they are aging.
I say - it does not have to be that way. Our mindset toward aging can be favorable.
Say “I’m old” over and over and guess what? You then will be old, think old, act old, react old, and turn old ... faster than you should. Faster than you want.
Change the phrase … “I’m young.”
When I hear someone say, “I’m old,” my standard reminder is, “There are older people than you.” And when a friend tries to group me into their old category, such as, “We’re old ladies” … “We’re so old now” … “We’re losing our minds,” etc., I say, “Speak for yourself. I’m still young.”
At age 30, I remember a brief encounter with an 80s-something lady in a retail store who had learned it was my birthday. “I'm 30 today! I’m so old.” Her retort was, “30? Big deal.” I have never forgotten her words even 33 years later.
I simply refuse to buy into the mindset of old and senior (even if an establishment wants to offer me a discount.) I refuse to voice it. As a member of the Jacksonville Senior Center, I omit the word, Senior. I’ll say instead, “I’m playing pickleball [or doing yoga] at the Jacksonville Rec Center.”
How do you state your age? Do you typically say, “I’m 63 years old” or “I’m 63 years young?” (And which feels better?) Or are you one of those who refuse to admit your age?
I was in disbelief when a friend turned 60 and would not admit it, voice it, or feel proud of it. A sibling did the same thing at the same age. They wanted no mention of any milestone number, handed no “Happy 60” greeting cards, and nothing about the “6” and “0” posted on social media. (And yet, they both accepted birthday gifts.)
C’mon, what is the actual protest there? That a person is still here and ALIVE?
What is the big deal of saying our ages aloud? (And mind the cliché ... it really is only a number.) I fail to understand the mindset of why it bothers some people to face a birthday. What’s the alternative? Six feet under with people dressed in black crying at your funeral – that's what.
Each of us should celebrate every birthday out loud. Celebrate ourselves, honor life, praise living, count waking up as a daily blessing. (Feet on the floor, gratitude galore ... I say it every morning as I swing my healthy legs off the bed.)
We are either here … or dead. Pick one.
My lifelong childhood friend, Debbie, died at age 56 … 56! Do you think she wanted to leave? Wanted to give into that horrid cancer? Or do you think she may have wanted to live longer and live well?
She said a few weeks before becoming an angel, “This is so depressing. I’m 56 and I’m dying.”
So, when someone whines to me about turning a new age – I challenge it. S/he soon learns they picked the wrong person to whine about having a birthday. I give them The Debbie Perspective. I show them the turquoise-colored dragonfly tattoo on my left arm (in honor of her) and explain that my sweet friend died at age 56 - although she wanted to stay.
“Let me get this straight.” I look the person in the eye. “What exactly are you whining about here … living? You should think harder about the alternative to having this birthday.”
Again, here or heaven … pick one. Debbie would have chosen life – at any age.
And while we are here living, let’s STAND UP and ...
And if you choose to, expect the repercussions. Because your body is listening, your mind is listening, your psyche, your soul, and The Universe is listening - and it will powerfully and easily deliver old right on your doorstep, faster than an Amazon package.
But movement? And a buoyant younger mindset? Activity? Attitude? Pride about turning a new age - whatever number? Those, gratefully, will most likely allow you to live longer and live well.
I like to imagine myself in my late 80s and 90s as one of those vibrant, active, zesty, cool, leopard-wearin', butt-kickin', travelin’ feisty ladies driving a sports car and still wearing my trademark long-wild-curly hair and bright fuschia lipstick. (Because … what is the alternative?)
It is said we are never too old to do anything. Are you “too old” to change your attitude about aging?
Here or heaven … pick one (and gratefully celebrate every birthday)
An optimistic mindset is the key to living longer and living well. Being conscious of having a positive outlook toward our increasing ages and potential aging issues is quite essential. Some of us Earthlings might benefit from adopting a fresh focus on how we form our words and thoughts surrounding the word old.
How much energy are you giving those three little letters?
As the years pass, we listen to the attitudes and thoughts of people around us toward aging. Have their attitudes changed? Yes! However, some are not adopting a better outlook. Their frames of mind are changing because they are aging.
I say - it does not have to be that way. Our mindset toward aging can be favorable.
Say “I’m old” over and over and guess what? You then will be old, think old, act old, react old, and turn old ... faster than you should. Faster than you want.
Change the phrase … “I’m young.”
When I hear someone say, “I’m old,” my standard reminder is, “There are older people than you.” And when a friend tries to group me into their old category, such as, “We’re old ladies” … “We’re so old now” … “We’re losing our minds,” etc., I say, “Speak for yourself. I’m still young.”
At age 30, I remember a brief encounter with an 80s-something lady in a retail store who had learned it was my birthday. “I'm 30 today! I’m so old.” Her retort was, “30? Big deal.” I have never forgotten her words even 33 years later.
I simply refuse to buy into the mindset of old and senior (even if an establishment wants to offer me a discount.) I refuse to voice it. As a member of the Jacksonville Senior Center, I omit the word, Senior. I’ll say instead, “I’m playing pickleball [or doing yoga] at the Jacksonville Rec Center.”
How do you state your age? Do you typically say, “I’m 63 years old” or “I’m 63 years young?” (And which feels better?) Or are you one of those who refuse to admit your age?
I was in disbelief when a friend turned 60 and would not admit it, voice it, or feel proud of it. A sibling did the same thing at the same age. They wanted no mention of any milestone number, handed no “Happy 60” greeting cards, and nothing about the “6” and “0” posted on social media. (And yet, they both accepted birthday gifts.)
C’mon, what is the actual protest there? That a person is still here and ALIVE?
What is the big deal of saying our ages aloud? (And mind the cliché ... it really is only a number.) I fail to understand the mindset of why it bothers some people to face a birthday. What’s the alternative? Six feet under with people dressed in black crying at your funeral – that's what.
Each of us should celebrate every birthday out loud. Celebrate ourselves, honor life, praise living, count waking up as a daily blessing. (Feet on the floor, gratitude galore ... I say it every morning as I swing my healthy legs off the bed.)
We are either here … or dead. Pick one.
My lifelong childhood friend, Debbie, died at age 56 … 56! Do you think she wanted to leave? Wanted to give into that horrid cancer? Or do you think she may have wanted to live longer and live well?
She said a few weeks before becoming an angel, “This is so depressing. I’m 56 and I’m dying.”
So, when someone whines to me about turning a new age – I challenge it. S/he soon learns they picked the wrong person to whine about having a birthday. I give them The Debbie Perspective. I show them the turquoise-colored dragonfly tattoo on my left arm (in honor of her) and explain that my sweet friend died at age 56 - although she wanted to stay.
“Let me get this straight.” I look the person in the eye. “What exactly are you whining about here … living? You should think harder about the alternative to having this birthday.”
Again, here or heaven … pick one. Debbie would have chosen life – at any age.
And while we are here living, let’s STAND UP and ...
- Move!
- Do!
- Participate!
- Dance!
- Laugh!
- Kiss!
- Go!
- Try new things!
- Seek adventure!
- Take the class!
- Go new places!
- Learn it!
- Keep growing!
- Open the new bottle of wine!
- Discover a hobby!
- Wear the good jewelry!
- Live!
And if you choose to, expect the repercussions. Because your body is listening, your mind is listening, your psyche, your soul, and The Universe is listening - and it will powerfully and easily deliver old right on your doorstep, faster than an Amazon package.
But movement? And a buoyant younger mindset? Activity? Attitude? Pride about turning a new age - whatever number? Those, gratefully, will most likely allow you to live longer and live well.
I like to imagine myself in my late 80s and 90s as one of those vibrant, active, zesty, cool, leopard-wearin', butt-kickin', travelin’ feisty ladies driving a sports car and still wearing my trademark long-wild-curly hair and bright fuschia lipstick. (Because … what is the alternative?)
It is said we are never too old to do anything. Are you “too old” to change your attitude about aging?