Age is Just a Number
I’m older than I’ve ever been before (duh!), but I’m not exactly sure how old I feel. There are times I’m very aware that I’m well past 70 but there are other times my mind can be transported back in time, and I can feel like a kid again. Age is just a number. At least for the most part. As we age we should be evaluated to make sure our physical, mental and emotional health are where they should be. Regular exercise and mental stimulation are important parts of everyone’s life, but the emotional or social aspects are important as well. Regular physical contact with other people should be a part of our existence. While many people function very well living alone, people should be aware that social contact with others can have a positive influence on your existence.
We should also be aware of what aging does to our bodies in terms of judgement and reaction times. This is especially true when it comes to driving. While distracted driving is always dangerous, as we age we should become even more sensitive to staying alert and paying attention to road conditions. Our response time is not as good as it was twenty years ago and we should drive accordingly. While age is just a number and everyone is different, we should all be aware that, as we glide past the 70-mile marker in terms of age, our bodies are not what they were when we were in our forties or fifties.
While we know our age is just a number, our bodies and not getting any younger.
Does that mean we should slow down? Absolutely not. We know many retirees who are more active in their retirement than they were during their working years, and I don’t know why everyone doesn’t strive to make that a reality. You should be active as you can and never stop learning new things, going to new places or trying something new. You’re as young as you feel because age is just a number. When you look at what people have accomplished in their “senior” years, you can become quite inspired. Never say you’re too old. Retirees are starting new careers and businesses all the time. Laura Ingalls Wilder didn’t start her “Little House” series until she was 65 and Frank McCourt was 60 when he wrote “Angela’s Ashes”. Harlan Sanders started Kentucky Fried Chicken at 65 when he got his first pension check and realized it would not be enough to give him the retirement lifestyle that he wanted. These people are proof that you can reinvent yourself in retirement. Don't ever be afraid to try something new and never be ashamed of the dreams you had in your youth. Those dreams were there for a reason and they are still a part of you. Most people forget that when they start collecting their social security checks. Don't let your dreams die from neglect.
Have you accomplished everything you set out to do? Are there still things you’d like to do? It isn’t too late. It may take a little modification, but there are still ways to make those fantasies of your youth a part of your life again. I happen to think that most people don’t live their life or retirement to the fullest and, by the time they reach their senior years, they start to think that they’re too old to do the things they dreamed of at one point in their life. Remember, age is just a number and there are many ways to make those forgotten desires a part of your life today. It’s one of the reasons I created The Self Discovery Challenge for Retirement and, from what people have told me, the process is not only enjoyable but many people learn about themselves and recall things from their youth that they may have forgotten. I think the process is fun and it’s free, so you have nothing to lose. It may be worth your time to find a quiet spot and see if there’s anything in your past worth resurrecting again. Age is just a number and you’re never too old to try something new.
Travel the world, start a new hobby or write a best-selling novel. Nothing is off the board when you consider all the possibilities of how you’re going to live the rest of your life. You only get one shot at retirement so make the most of it. Get rid of all the excuses. You don’t have enough money to travel the world? Start a business or sell some of that “stuff” you have in the attic. Team up with a friend and find out how to make things happen. Every day presents a new beginning and new possibilities. But you’re the only one who can make things happen. Don’t wait for an opportunity, create one. You’re never too old to start something new because, as we’ve said many times, age is just a number. Go ahead. Get started today. It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!
Thanks for visiting. If you like what you see here, please tell your friends. If you haven’t done so already, be sure you take The Self Discovery Challenge for Retirement! It’s designed to help you make the most of this wonderful time of your life. You’re never too old to discover something new about yourself!
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