Q. I feel like I am very young āinsideā my head. My body doesnāt agree! When I am out and about people treat me like a āseniorā and it drives me crazy! Yes, I am a senior, but I donāt want to be treated like one. Am I the only one that feels this way?
A.The silver generation doesnāt feel like an aging adult. As a matter of fact, studies reveal that people over the age of 65 do not like the terms associated with the stage of life they are in. So, you can see, you are not alone! The concern seems to center around the perceptions that others have about seniors who donāt feel like seniors. Our society, though, still treats someone who is showing outward signs of aging as āold.ā The truth is, that everyone has his or her own definition of when āoldā happens! So what can we do to tear down those walls? Iāve met many seniors who I could describe as āyoungā and some of the attributes they possess that make them that way is their mindset. They have something about them that exudes joy, where a great sense of humor breeds joy that is contagious. I also notice that my āyoungā senior friends, have a sense of confidence and arenāt afraid of living life fully. They are givers and contributors in life. They donāt get a wrinkled attitude when things donāt go their way. Another huge marker is that they do life with others. They have a community of friends they engage with, and do life with. The camaraderie shared with their friends is a foundation for feeding their youthful life. They have personality, are vibrant and it shows. All this to say, when someone treats them as āold,ā they donāt take it the wrong way. They go with the flow and move on. Iāve seen this myself as my own body has entered the steady aging incline. (Notice, I didnāt say decline!) I am okay with it, and when the young checkout clerk at the grocery store refers to me as āmaāam,ā I just go with the flow and embrace the stage of life I am in. After all, age is just a number!
