How To Live A Full Life while Accepting Your Age?

First, you decide if you are going to let your years or your abilities limit you.

Life is a balancing act between constraining limitations and endless possibilities.

There are some precocious babies, bright and winsome but they won’t be talking to their parents at six months. Being in the baby phase has limitations.

Old age does have limitations too that vary with individuals. Shakespeare called it Dotage and Death and vividly describes the last stage

Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. As you like it Act 11, Scene VII [All the world’s a stage]

Never mind this grim picture, I still have everything even if there is a dilution of quality. Physically, there is not a button that switches on decrepitude but health problems increase, agility slows and the mind forgets in its own time.

Erik Erickson did groundbreaking work in the eight stages of psychosocial development. In the nineties, he contributed with colleagues to a book, Vital Involvement in Old Age. Age sixty-five years start the last and eighth stage. Its success depends on our sense of our own accomplishments in earlier stages.

Now, I’m in the eighth stage of my biological life- but started to plan while still an adult.

Eighth Stage Plans

• I decided that I would enjoy my life until I lose my awareness of it
• I reflected on the great examples of my maternal grandmother and aunts who danced until the end.
• Some aged folks are cheerful despite disabilities while others create an air of depression and negativity. I’ll imitate the cheerful ones and avoid those who habitually moan and complain.
• I will cherish my faith, my own company, family, and friends but remain ready to create new connections.
• Learn from the past but don’t hold on to traditions and beliefs that stop the enjoyment of the present.
• My body will eventually fail but I will continue to thank God daily for my level of health and all the good things in my life.

So what is the phase of this stage of my life?

It is a phase of adjustment to being single and coping with uncertainty about the future. Decisions queue until I feel ready to make them. My emotions and body synchronize to rob me of my earlier vitality.

Against this backdrop of reality, life continues to surprise me. I’m able to stick to the aging plan. My faith and church friends are an anchor but my volunteer activities also help. Although I dislike exercising, I diligently attend classes several times a week and enjoy friendships there.

Gratitude runs through my days as I’m thankful for the freedom to write and my wellness of body, soul, and mind.

Writing has given me a purpose as I share life lessons, engage in a community, and learn some more.

I hope this phase will last a long time. I’m happy with the accomplishments of my adult life and hopeful for my writing future.