How to Grow Old Gracefully

Have you ever taken a look at some of the older generation and were instantly drawn to some of them while being completely repulsed by others? What was it about them that caused the instant reaction in you? I am not talking about ageless beauties like Sophia Loren, feisty Elizabeth Taylor or world-known Playboy Hugh Hefner. I am talking about everyday people like you and me. Those that do not make the headlines, are not rich and famous and all in all live an everyday lifestyle that is nothing much to write home about.

Those people have grown old gracefully. Instead of letting life's ups and downs make them bitter and resentful, they have transcended all that and have become a beacon and praise worthy example for the younger generation.

Before we can discuss how to grow old gracefully, we have to first take a look at what growing old gracefully means to us. Each person may have a different description and meaning for this phrase. To some it means staying young looking, to others it may mean staying active while yet a third person sees it as being in the center of attention and the life of the party. To me personally, growing old gracefully means in many ways a bit of each of them and yet none of them in their entirety.

Looking young versus being lovely.

There are hundreds of creams, peels and lotions out there on the open market that claim to be the "holy grail" of staying young looking. Doctors have perfected the art of plastic surgery so your skin can retain a youthful look far into your later years. It has become more and more the fashion trend to choose plastic enhancements over looking our age.

Growing old gracefully isn't about a 60 Year old grandmother trying to look like her 20 year old grand child. In many ways I find that disturbing to say the least. It is more about accepting your age and trying to look the best with good skin and health care that you can. There is nothing lovelier to me then a person who has accepted the fact that they are aging and are simply doing the best they can with what was naturally given to them. This sort of acceptance without turning it into an excuse or a cause for bitterness, shows not only on their skin and stance, but in their very behavior. Growing old gracefully doesn't start at age 50 but many years before. It is the way you treat your body, your mind and your spirit from a much earlier age on. If you decide to mistreat yourself all your life, don't expect to have your old age be kind to you in looks.

Don't use your age as an excuse to give up on life.

The human body is designed to be used. If you only sit down on your couch and watch TV or sleep most of the time, your muscles sooner or later are going to become too weak to really do anything. Just because you are getting older doesn't mean you need to stop being active. Yes, you may no longer be able to go Rock Climbing because your back hurts or your arms no longer have the strength, but that doesn't mean you can't go for a nice walk. It doesn't stop you from standing at a River Shore and cast your rod out for fishing. It doesn't stop you from going canoeing on a mellow river. You can still go out for a nice relaxing Dinner with some friends. You can still enjoy a wonderful walk at sunset. Even if you have to give up some of the more strenuous exercises, it doesn't mean you suddenly have to quit living. Again growing old gracefully doesn't mean you need to be able to do everything you once used to be able to do as a young person, but it means not just giving up on everything because it is no longer easy to do. By not quitting on life and yourself, you not only regain and retain some of your strength and flexibility of body and mind, but you also glow from the inside out. What a lovely picture an older person makes that is still out there doing for them-selves. Asking for help is no shame if you truly can't, but if you are just feeling pity for yourself because you have reached an old age, then you need to readjust your thinking a bit.

Growing old gracefully also means growing up mentally.

Before you ask me how you can grow old without growing up first, I would ask you to look at some of the people around you. Have you seen those people who still seem to think they are teenagers? I am sorry, but sooner or later you need to realize that you have responsibilities in life. Sooner or later running around in a too short pair of shorts is just not attractive or becoming anymore. Sooner or later trying to pick up a 20 Year old is not really such a good idea (especially when they are young enough to be your grandkids). Thinking that the world owes you anything is fruitless, because the world owes none of us anything. Growing old gracefully to me means accepting my part in the mistakes that I have made and trying to make certain I don't repeat them. Don't hold on to childish arguments and hurt feelings from years ago. You may never forget what happened, but growing old and bitter is really neither a beautiful nor a healthy option. There is nothing more off putting then an old person that constantly sings the same poor me song. If you want your family to want to see you, then don't run them off by bitter behavior. That by the way goes for anyone at any age. Nobody likes a constant sourpuss. You can act your age, without having to act like you are dead.

Perhaps being the backbone of the Party is just as important as being the life of it.

Really falling over drunk, being the loudest voice in the group or being the only one that is always right is neither attractive nor the behavior of someone that I would want to look up to. There comes a time when being the graceful person whose presence you feel rather then hear, is ultimately more attractive. Growing old gracefully is knowing that you don't have to be the life of the party to be an important part of any gathering.

Growing old is an attitude more then an action!

If you hate the fact that you are growing older and can not see a single good thing it, then it is pretty fair to assume that you won't be growing old gracefully any time soon. Every Age has its benefits and every age has its purpose. Realize the reason for your Season and embrace all it has to offer. Your attitude towards the changes in your life will make all the difference in the way you and others will perceive you.