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MY SUN DAY NEWS

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Ask an Angel: October 22, 2015

By Arlene Petersen

Q. I feel like I am very young ā€œinsideā€ my head. My body doesnā€™t agree! When I am out and about people treat me like a ā€œseniorā€ and it drives me crazy! Yes, I am a senior, but I donā€™t want to be treated like one. Am I the only one that feels this way?

A.The silver generation doesnā€™t 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 donā€™t feel like seniors. Our society, though, still treats someone who is showing outward signs of aging as ā€œold.ā€ The truth is, that everyone has his or her own definition of when ā€œoldā€ happens! So what can we do to tear down those walls? Iā€™ve met many seniors who I could describe as ā€œyoungā€ 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 ā€œyoungā€ senior friends, have a sense of confidence and arenā€™t afraid of living life fully. They are givers and contributors in life. They donā€™t get a wrinkled attitude when things donā€™t 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 ā€œold,ā€ they donā€™t take it the wrong way. They go with the flow and move on. Iā€™ve seen this myself as my own body has entered the steady aging incline. (Notice, I didnā€™t say decline!) I am okay with it, and when the young checkout clerk at the grocery store refers to me as ā€œmaā€™am,ā€ I just go with the flow and embrace the stage of life I am in. After all, age is just a number!





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