Growing Old Isn’t So Bad…

Especially When You Consider The Alternative

As the saying goes, ‘growing old isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative.’

Since 1900, the average global life expectancy has more than doubled. Today, the Earth inhabits more centenarians than the population of Iceland, and for the first time ever, 1/3 of humanity is over the age of 50. Due to the significant increase in longevity occurring in recent history, it’s difficult to look at our ancestors for guidance on aging.

A 30-year-old, someone we consider young today, was quite old a few hundred years ago. Due to the more limited time and resources back then, there was much less division between ages. Modern concepts, like “teenager,” “young adult,” and “middle-age” didn’t exist back then, and “elderly” holds a completely different meaning today, centuries later.

Aging was once seen from a dire lens - as a disease that could not be cured. Today, we have a much more favorable view of growing older:

Clear Priorities

As we grow older and make our way through the various phases of life, our experiences allow us to better understand cause and effect. When younger, we believe something will occur when a specific goal is achieved. For me, I was confident that a new wristwatch would make me happier (it didn’t). As we age, we adopt a ‘been there, done that’ mentality and learn from our past mistakes. We learn to differentiate our needs from our wants and articulate what is truly important to us.

Slowing Down

Have you ever wondered why giant tortoises have the longest lifespan with some living beyond 200 years old!? I have to believe their slower lifestyles contribute to their longevity. Giant tortoises grow slowly, move slowly, and digest food slowly. Much like our reptilian friends, humans slow down, but it typically takes getting older for the process to start. As we age, we spend less time in rush hour traffic, less energy on getting the little ones out of the house to soccer practice, and less urgency in finishing a work assignment to meet the boss’s deadline.

Emotional Control

While negativity continues to poison the world, the personal impact on us, as individuals, significantly declines with age. As we age, we care less about how others perceive us and instead focus on living up to our own uniquely defined standards. Our emotions act accordingly - as we mature, we move beyond allowing others to make us angry, sad, or frustrated and begin taking back control.

Financial Freedom

According to Forbes.com, the average net worth of those younger than 35 years old is $76,000. The average net worth of those between the ages of 65-74 is $1,217,700 - quite a big difference! As hard work and effort from our younger days begins to pay off, financial focus begins to shift from accumulation of assets to strategic spending. When this shift begins, the financial stress of building our nest egg begins to fade.

Curbed Expectations

We all have an expiration date, and as miserable as that sounds, it’s exactly why living life to the fullest is so critical. When we’re younger, it’s easy to forget that and get caught up in the chaos of our day-to-day routine, but as we age, thus getting closer to death, we begin to appreciate the little moments that we once ignored. Laughter, sunsets, the smell of a kitchen on Thanksgiving - life’s full of precious moments. The older we get, the more we genuinely experience them.

Wisdom and Understanding

Beyond the standard K-12 school system and collegiate level education, we learn a lot throughout life. As we age, we begin to transition learning from a requirement to a desire. Our experiences help us comprehend more and appreciate more, making learning enjoyable. Only the experienced fully understand that life teaches us things we can’t learn from a text book or lecture hall.

Less Burden

Although medical bills may increase with age, the pressures of life tend to move in the opposite direction. We’ve been around the block and begin to understand when to worry and when to move on. We’re established in our lives and comfortable in our own skin. With each passing day, the weight of the world becomes a little lighter.

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Although on the surface, aging appears to be filled with gray hair, wrinkles, and often a larger waistline than our college days, the future is called ‘the golden years’ for a reason. Our upbringing, personal experiences, and professional accomplishments shape who we are and what’s important to us later in life. The people, places, and things we value most is where we allocate our time as we age — but it takes youth to discover them.

As we look back, it’ll make sense, but until then, let’s all enjoy the ride.

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Photo Credit:

Miscw.com : “Remember, Growing Older is Mandatory. Growing up is Optional”

Beaver County Times: https://www.timesonline.com/story/lifestyle/celebrations/wedding/2016/03/06/19-habits-adorable-elderly-couples/18563593007/