"Of all the self-fulfilling prophecies in our culture, the assumption that aging means decline and poor health is probably the deadliest." (Marilyn Ferguson, The Aquarian Conspiracy, 1980)
What are we thinking? In case you didn't already realize - our answer - when it comes to the influence of our perspective about our chronological age - matters, more than we may have ever imagined. At times - as in essentially ALL the time - it may feel we are swimming upstream as those living the Not Done Yet! life. Friends and peers consistently blaming their latest shortcoming or deficiency on age, constant references in the news or television shows pointing to age as the primary driver of expanding waistlines and sore joints are all around us. And then scientific-sounding click-bait articles like this from the Wall Street Journal pointing to sudden bio-molecular shifts at ages 44 and 60 (which literally puts a finger on the "effects of aging" in early 40s) add to the mix.
Don't fall for it. Yes - age matters. A top-tier athlete in their 60's will never match that of a similarly conditioned 25 year old. As we discussed in a previous article (All Things Don't Have to Be Equal), that's not the point. If each of us were completely dialed in physically, then age would be the remaining factor toward which we could point our finger. Clearly that is not (even close to) the case! A cursory review of the study on which the Wall Street Journal article was based provides a good example. The cohort was small (108 people), spread across a 50 year span (25-75 years of age) and 86% of the participants were overweight or obese (which exceeds even the current population level, which sits at 71%). While the study is quite interesting and does an exceptional job of setting the stage for future research, the associated headline and apparent application generally do not apply to you. You're making a point to consistently tune into the Catalyst Cornerstones (Move/Fuel/Rest/Connect). You understand choices trump calendars. When your outcomes don’t match expectations, you look for opportunities to shift your actions instead of shifting the blame.
However, the issue goes notably deeper than our media outlets. We live in a culture where the 50+ side of life is assumed to be one of slowing down, easing up, and stepping aside. Intriguingly, this is the exact opposite of what we see across almost any other setting. The energy wrapped into sports (4th quarter, 9th inning, 7th game) or performances (closing scene, encore) and even firework shows (grand finale) is bolstered, not belittled, as we near the end! It is the climax, far more than the early phases, we celebrate at the highest levels. But then for some reason, we step back into real life (our literal lives!) and reverse our perspective, assuming the final chapter is nothing more than a long wave goodbye?!? Unfortunately, even our deeply trusted, but ill-informed (yes - “ill”-informed) physicians often advise avoidance over activity and laying low over living fully. Don't push too hard - you are getting older, you know...
So what can we do? What options do we have to choose adventure over apathy? Impact over inaction? The 1st step is to become aware of the negative messaging, consciously challenging the headlines, comments and reduced expectations. Then we must act. Here are a few ideas you may find worth considering:
Assess your inner circle. We become the 5 people with whom we spend the most time. How do your Fab 5 view this stage of life? What are their attitudes and actions demonstrating? Are they challenging you to stretch, reach and go? Or sit back and call it a day? Dr. Becca Levy has spent decades studying positive self-perception of aging. Her 2020 study found positive age beliefs enhanced cognition in older adults 15x more than that of the oft-referenced APOE2 gene. Dr. Brad Meisner’s meta-analysis on the impact of negative aging perceptions further solidify the importance of doing so.
Expand your outer circle. Since Suzanna and I moved to Fort Collins, CO a few years ago, I've made an effort, in spite of being an introvert, to expand connections across 3 distinct groups: Older individuals (opportunity to glean wisdom), peers (community) and yes - younger individuals (organic energy and challenge orientation). Living in a college town (Colorado State University) may make this easier, but similar options available anywhere if we look. In addition, I've been fortunate to find an outstanding weekly track group within the running community that includes runners of all ages... and speeds!
Tune into your own words. Were you a little slower at that last community 5K? A bit more fatigued on the family hike? Are you pointing to age? Or are you instead assessing what steps you could take to improve your fitness/strength/speed for the next go-around? (Note: medical conditions are a reality and lifestyle choices are not a panacea - stay up to date on check-ups with a physician who doesn't default to easy answers).
Tune into gaps. Once we recognize the map our words are creating, then we can step into filling the available gaps. For example, strength and power diminish with age, all things remaining equal (ATBE). As discussed previously, your ATBE score is up to you. For example, the value of integrating strength training & plyometrics grows with each passing year, giving you a higher ROI/minute invested in these activities as we expand the years we compile in our toolbox.
Sign up for a race - any race. Rinse and repeat. It doesn’t matter how fast you are or how long you’ve been running. You’ll be welcomed into the community and enjoy a birthday boost few others experience, as masters athletes move into a new racing age category every 5 years. There are few populations who regularly look forward to these birthday landmarks more than masters athletes. Join in!
Our aging mindset is just that: the way in which we set our minds about aging. It affects our approach to each day’s challenges, shifts our desire to step into those challenges, and even bolsters our cognition. Age is not simply a number - it is a biological reality. However, it is one factor of many influencing this journey of life. When we step into a purposeful, realistic mindset about the turning of the page and stop giving age ultimate power over the way in which our lives play out, we garner new autonomy, engagement and hope. And hope, my friends, is the spark that brings light to the darkest night.
I love your message here. And the rebel in me is rising up to the challenge. This is just more society programming that im not going to take lying down.
Am I going to go out with a bang, or slump down and whimper like a loser?
Why do we buy into the bullshit idea that getting older means giving up, letting go, slacking off, becoming weak, turning to flab, being a pansy? It’s time to question the narrative.
Yes to this! I started farming at age 57. It was a marvelous and challenging adventure after 35 years of teaching and earning three degrees. I did need to exit when I realized I was not able to financially or physically maintain that pace when I reached my 65th birthday. I have several Fab Fives—role models in their 80s, peers in their 70s, and young people I met mentoring on the farm or in my current garden in their early 30s to 50’s. I’m not into competitive exercise, but do stay active and definitely live a health-conscious lifestyle.