Do you see your age as just a date on the calendar ? Do you let your age define or hinder you?

Getting older happens naturally and age is really what you make of it. 

Sometimes people want the opposite of what they have.  When I listen to small children, many what to be older.  Some make a point of being 2, 3, 4 days or months older than their play mates.  In contrast, as people get older, some want to be younger, or they remain the golden age of “39” for years and years. 

I can’t believe that I am as old as I am….but, as a wise friend of mine once said, “growing older is not bad, it sure beats the alternative!”  I think of her words each year when I turn another year older.

Does Age Hinder You?

I was listening to a podcast recently about a female influencer who was talking how she has not worked out in a while due to the weather and family situations.  The way she said it surprised me. “…since I am 48, it will be hard to get back on track and back to my old routines.”

Wow, she is letting her age define her. She is allowing her mindset about her age, hinder her desired fitness level. If age is just a date on the calendar, then she might have said, “I have gotten off track recently with my fitness routine, I need to develop one that will motivate and work for me.”

I am encouraged when I see people older than myself ignoring their age.  On a recent hike, we saw a group of hikers who were well into their 80’s.  They were slow, intentional about each of their steps, and just like me had wrinkles on their faces and hands, but they were out hiking, enjoying their activity and chatting about their surroundings.  My 92-year-old mother rides her stationary bike 10 miles most days. She likes to brag to us how many minutes it takes her and at what resistance level.  I love it!  I want to be just like them as I continue to age.

Is your age just a date on the calendar? Do you strive to be the best version of yourself at any age or are you limited by that number that keeps getting higher each passing year?