Exceptional How should one act as he or she ages? Aging in the 21st Century by Titanx9

It is great to reflect on your  life once in a while, but as people age they tend to spend more time doing it. One of the concepts that plays on the mind as we age is age appropriate  behavior. What is age suitability? Why is it those who find themselves past the last blooms of spring suddenly become arbiters of what constitutes age appropriate behavior? How does one reconcile the desire to accomplish a certain thing, or take a particular action with their chronological age? Should there be an age adjustment factor where one is allowed to have their reality, or mind reset for what is happening in society at large? Growing old does not necessarily mean one must put his or her life and the things he or she enjoys on hold. There are some ways you can cope and go on doing what makes you happy. Personalize and redefine what is age appropriate. If you type “age appropriate” in Google's search, you will likely get an assortment of categories on what comprise age appropriate actions. This can range  from movies and books to social behavior and clothing. From the minute, you were born to the day you die; plans are steadily being made to put you in your small box. It will be replete with carefully orchestrated “must dos” and words of constraint used as prettified wrappings.   As you age, you may note the activities that always brought you enjoyment become more proscribed. Perhaps, you cannot laugh as loud as you did in your 20s or 30s because suddenly it is not age appropriate to do so. What will you do about the short red skirt that shows off your shapely legs, or the brown plaid pants that always make you look 10 pounds lighter? Do you go out and purchase a more somber wardrobe in order to satisfy the clothing arbiters? The decision will be up to you. Remember, it is your life and as long as what you are doing is legal  and does not offend, you do not care that you may look a little foolish, or you have a reason for doing what you are doing, why sweat it? Personalize and determine what age appropriateness means to you. As you age, you may notice members in your age group are often your biggest critics; especially, if these detractors have not exercised regularly or walked the trails routinely over the years. Recently, I overheard a rather rotund 50 something woman comment about the high-heeled boots one of her smaller contemporaries sported. She snorted contemptuously “she should act her age. Those boots should not be worn by a woman half her age.” Because there was such passion in her assessment, I took a second look at the boots. What amazed me was the fact she could actually walk in the three-inch heels. She looked great. Just looking at the confidence and assurance she radiated, one knew she cared less what others thought was age appropriate for her. That is the place you, and I should seek to arrive at as we age.   Champion and ascertain your age adjustment factor As baby boomers, we especially like to coin terms such as age adjustment factors. However, in this context, those who fixate on aging and worrying about what their contemporaries think of their behavior should allow for an adjustment period to reconcile their actions upon reaching a certain age. What that means is if you are turning 50, 60, 70 or even 80, allow yourself at least two to three years to catch up with your contemporaries and their “age-appropriate” activities. When someone dares to criticize your dress, actions or you, tell them you are in your age adjustment period and will eventually catch up on the customs of that particular age group. They will probably call you eccentric, but at least you are  enjoying life on your own terms and not by the dictates of others.   Growing older is not as glamorous as many would like, but it certainly does not mean you must have your life fenced around “age appropriate” approved activities. If you have always been an upstanding individual who has enjoyed a multitude of activities, continue doing them. If you want to wear white the year round, go ahead and do it. If you want to dance in the rain at age 65 the same way you did at 25, put on a rain cap so you won’t catch pneumonia and dance to your heart’s delight. You only live once and growing older should liberate you, not limit you. Recognized Author Notes Curtesy of Google's photos. This is one of my "thinking" articles. Sometimes, I think I do it too much. There are folks of a certain age that I admire because they defy time and age appropriateness. Betty White, Maya Angelou and Sophia Loren are my all-time favorite "age crossers" if that can be coined into a usable term.

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