How old are you? Do you ever think about your age or do you dwell on the fact that you’re getting older? Age is just a number. The number only has meaning if you put emphasis on it.
Be clear on this, you begin to age the moment you’re conceived!
I’m an ageless person. The number of years doesn’t mean much of anything to me. Being agelessness means not buying into the idea that a number determines everything from your state of health to your attractiveness or your value. However, being ageless is a state of mind more than anything else.
Yes, first of all, it’s important to be proactive in living a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy is important in maintaining your body. Movement is also important. You know the drill on healthy living styles and as a result this article will not talk about that aspect.
It’s all in the attitude!
What is your attitude? First, are you happy? What is your outlook on life in general? Second, what kind of people do you surround yourself with? Thirdly, what thoughts does your mind dwell on? In other words, what do you tell yourself?
Many years ago I worked for a company that specialized in wound care. Being the vice president of the company, I managed the nursing staff. In addition, to managing the nursing staff, I did marketing for the company. So, medical conventions were an important component of the company’s viability.
Often times, to save money the nurses would share a room while working the convention. On one occasion, I shared a room with a nurse I had worked with at another company. The moment this woman opened her eyes the first words out of her mouth were, “It’s hell getting old.” Every single morning I heard theses words come out of her mouth. At the time, this lovely woman was only in her 40s!
You can be younger at 60 than you were at 20 because you’ve changed your attitude and your lifestyle. To be ageless is to deny the rules of what it means to be this age or that age. In other words, it means quite simply, to never grow “old”. (Like Peter Pan!) This woman believed that the best days were behind her and it’s all downhill from here on out. How sad. I haven’t seen her in years. I wonder about her at times.
Who do you keep company with?
I know people in their teenaged years who are old! They think old and act old! There’s an 82 year old woman I know who is younger than most people half her age. Actually, her husband is 16 years younger and he has to stay on his toes to keep up with her. She’s ageless.
In my career, I saw many men and women in their upper years (80 and above) who were very active and healthy. They take no medications, none are needed. These individuals do what they want. Hiking, tennis, golf, water skiing, nothing slows them down!
For instance, most of my friends are many years younger than I am. One of my closest friends is the same age as two of my daughters. When one of my daughters met Lisa she said, “Oh it’s like having another daughter.” Lisa quickly corrected my daughter by saying, “No! Your mother is my best friend!” To this day, Lisa forgets that I’m the same age as her mother.
Think young, be curious and never stop learning or growing!
Living in the moment
Engage life without fear in thinking you’re growing old. We are long overdue for a radical paradigm shift in our beliefs about growing older. Centenarians are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population. This group is increasing at the rate of about 75,000 people per year. (I have written an article on this topic already.) There are about 53,300 centenarians in the U.S. and by 2050, there will be 600,000. Yep, you read that right! Ten times as many Americans will be over 100 years old two generations from now. The same is predicted for the world population. Current estimates put the figure of total centenarians worldwide at about 450,000. Most of these centenarians are active and very healthy.
Surround yourself with active happy people. You will be better off for it.
More thoughts on being ageless
Ageless living is being fearless and courageous. It means not being distracted by the petty dramas in life. You have the experience to know what’s not worth worrying about. You’ve already determined your priorities. Above all, it means establishing a new relationship towards time. You have no fear of time. Embrace where you are in life.
During the course of my career, I asked people over 100 how they felt about being a hundred or more, the most common answers were blessed, happy, and surprised. In other words, because they’re living agelessly, they don’t pay attention to age. It truly is just a number.
Where the mind goes, so does the rest of your life
Therefore, as I’ve already talked about in other articles, what one’s mind dwells on, is what you will manifest into your life. However, if you pay attention to the thoughts that are foremost in your mind, what will manifest into your existence will be so much better.
Above all, live in the moment with a positive attitude about your life.
In summary
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Age is not even a thought for the ageless individual. Do I practice what I preach? I certainly do!
Being a single woman, I have many opportunities in meeting people. I was recently asked out on a date by a man young enough to be my son. When I told him this he said, “No you’re not!” I replied, “Yes, I am.” His response, “I don’t believe you. I don’t care! Let’s go out!”
He truly thought I was his age. Just as my friend, Lisa, continues to think I’m closer to her age than her mother’s.
Did we go out? Of course we did! We had a great time and as a result, we’ve been friends for a couple of years now.
Go live your life fearlessly! Be in the moment! Enjoy the moment you’re in!
After are, you are ageless!
