Honoring Elders - Old Idea is New Again

My daughter and her spouse gave me a refrigerator magnet that repeats the oft delivered message, “Age is a State of Mind.” I’ve written about this in previous blogs with the response that age is relative to a person’s state of mind but it is also undeniably a state of physical change. I was inspired by the refrigerator magnet while reaching for a glass of calcium rich almond milk (dark chocolate). It features the observations of the aging icon George Burns who claimed, “Old, Young. Just words.”

I have issues with this on a couple of fronts. First, I would definitely not want to be 25 or 30 again with the mindset that generally comes with the age (although George did enjoy the company of very young ladies very late in life). Secondly, I think there’s no harm in age distinctions so long as they don’t rely on silly stereotypes and negative expectations. I rather like the way that Assembly Member Mariko Yamada explained the matter of age in a recent committee hearing. She said that, so far as the Golden State is concerned, when a person reaches 65 he or she is regarded as an “elder.” Now, before I set off any knee-jerk reactions, let me add that my personal reference point to the term “elder” comes from my university studies in anthropology – where one learns that an elder is a respected, honored individual who has earned an exalted place in a culture due to many years rich with living and learning. It was later in life that I encountered the terms “elderly, senior citizen, and retiree” – none of which carry similar positive connotations.

I am an advocate of changing this latter perception – from one that speaks of decline and weakness of body and mind as a feature of age to a new awareness of the many benefits of being an elder in America. With the arrival of the huge Baby Boomer generation, there is a rapidly growing body of scientific and medical research that supports the value of society’s elders and offers new strategies for healthy, active longevity.

A short list of benefits enjoyed by the 65-plus set includes the ability to leverage thought processes on both hemispheres of the brain (a link not available to most of the younger population), thus allowing for greater brain power in problem solving and managing social situations. And, happy to shatter another presumption about aging, our brains continue to grow and react to stimulation. We can make ourselves smarter by conscious design – think learning a musical instrument or a new language or, even learning to dance. The priorities of elders are significantly clearer and more focused than in the younger generation. We make more cogent choices about what’s important; we can opt to not be involved in conflict and negativity. We have the ability to make sound judgments because we have a storehouse of experience to call upon. In new situations we are able to apply lessons learned, quite intuitively. The list of up-sides is long and I look forward to looking at the positives in greater detail with you on this blog.

I am always interested in feedback and guidance to great resources on healthy aging and I urge you to comment so that, together, we can create agreement that becoming an elder is a moment of great opportunity – one to be exploited, enjoyed and explored.