Dad Said it Best
Age-Old Truths for Modern Times
“You’re only as old as you feel.” ~Anonymous
As its title implies, this blog is dedicated to wise sayings my father used to share. But this time, I’m shifting gears and allowing my daughter to have her say. Nearly five years ago, I turned 50 and my firstborn turned 25.
Turning 50 is cause enough for serious reflection. But when my daughter reached my half-life within days of my own big day, it was time to gain a youthful perspective.
Reaching any new decade is a big deal. I recall turning 10; I had hit two digits. I was finally a big kid. Then when I turned 20, I declared I was no longer a kid (who was I kidding?). Upon turning 30, I felt I had used up any excuses youth had previously afforded me; it was time to get serious. At 40, I felt I had finally arrived. I was well-established with my husband, home, family, exciting career, new car, new iPhone… Nothing could stop me.
Then the recession hit. I lost that dream job. My dad died. Two of my siblings got cancer; one didn’t recover. The kids grew up and left home. I started working longer hours, working out less, getting out of shape. My son, with his evil sense of humor, kept reminding me I was getting closer to my expiration date with each passing day. By the time the big 5-0 hit, I was feeling over the hill; way too early to let myself slip into old age!
So I interviewed my half-life daughter to regain a youthful perspective. She reminded me that when young people wake up to a new morning feeling creaky in the joints and muscles, they don’t tell themselves it’s because they’re getting old and arthritic. Rather, they’re tired and sore because they worked out so hard the day before. Oh yeah, that working out thing. That would be a good habit to return to.
Next, when they hit a roadblock on their career (or other) pathway, they don’t tell themselves that’s because they’re no good at what they do and just settle for the routine. Where’s that can-do attitude? Youth pushes past roadblocks or finds another way around them so the goal is achieved. It’s all hinged on optimistic hope, believing that something better is just around the corner.
Basically, my daughter looks for ways to open new doors, seek new experiences, meet new people and reach new goals. How many 50- or 60-year-olds still have that sense of adventure? While I can’t answer that question, it’s easy to identify which ones have a youthful perspective and which ones don’t. Those who continue to push their minds, bodies and goals with new challenges manage to stay young, despite their age.
Science backs me up. The Journal of the American Medical Association published research results that concluded, when it comes to longevity, feeling young may be more important than actually being young. Out of nearly 6,500 adults in the study, those who felt at least one year older than their actual age were 41 percent more likely to die within eight years than were those who felt at least three years younger than their actual age. The mortality rate among those who felt older than their true age was 24.6 percent, compared with 18.5 percent for those who felt their age, and only 14.3 percent for those who felt much younger.
In another study, researchers found older people with positive views on aging were 44% more likely to recover fully after severe disability than those with negative views on aging. People with positive attitudes about aging also were also better able to carry out daily tasks independently as they grew older.
One thing my father used to say, is, “I think, therefore I am,” coined by the French philosopher René Descartes in 1637. I take it a step further.
Now that I’m midway between 50 and 60, “I think young, therefore I am young” is my motto going forward.
