When we think of inspiring stories of aging, we often think of the woman still crocheting at 98 – how are her fingers still so nimble? We think of the Vietnam War Veteran still serving his community as a volunteer – doesn’t he just want to relax?
These stories are often presented as a novelty – the hours people put in, the selflessness, the always being involved – but are they really that novel? As our society ages faster and more and more of us are older, these stories are becoming the norm. Medicine and technology are advancing so quickly, who knows how long children being born now will live.
I write this column on the eve of my 30th birthday as I dream about the future. Will my story of aging be inspiring, or will it blend right in with the millions of other millennials who will probably end up living longer than our grandparents?
I often wondered why my aunts would joke about all being 29. “I stopped at 29!” “I’m turning 29 again this year!” But why?
The older we get, the smarter we get; the more life experiences we have to draw from; the more friends, family and community we have to support us.
I am excited to get older. I’ve been aching to be 30 since my 29th birthday. It could just be the odd number that I don’t care for, or it could be that changing the stigma around aging has become a passion project of mine, inside and outside of work, and turning 30 felt like the perfect opportunity to bring awareness to this topic.
When I think about possibly working another 35 years – and living another 30 years after that – that’s amazing to me. I could do so many things. I could become a CEO of an organization. I could visit every country in the world. I could win the lottery. I could meet the president.
Getting older comes with complicated feelings, but how much of them are due to societal stigma around aging?
Sure, there are things to be nervous about. My mom’s arthritis started getting bad in her mid-30s, so yes, that has me worried about getting older. But that’s why I plan to hike as far and as high as my body will let me in the next 10 years.
My birthday wish is for you all to embrace the aging process this coming year. Do something you might not be able to do when you’re older or set a lofty goal. The next time you hear someone who does not want to tell you their real age, you could ask them why that is.
Like many things, it takes consistent conversation to bring awareness and change opinions.
We here at Area Agency on Aging are here to support you no matter the aging issue. Give our Info-Line a call at 800-654-2810 and get connected to a variety of resources to help you with the aging process.
Maybe you’re an older adult who wants to be that 98-yearold crocheter, or you want to spend all your time in retirement volunteering. We’re here to help you connect those passions with purpose as you age.
You don’t have to do it alone, and there are 30-somethings who are excited about being where you are one day, but want to help you in the meantime.
We’re all aging, so we’re all in this together.
Alexandra Newman is the communications and outreach coordinator for the Region IV Area Agency on Aging in Southwest Michigan. Interested in having an AAA representative speak to your group or organization? Email alexandranewman@areaagencyonaging.org. Questions on age or independence services? Call the Info-Line for Aging & Disability at 800-654-2810. The Generations column appears each weekend in The Herald-Palladium.