For all I knew, my Grandparents were born old. They dressed formally, walked painfully and corrected me frequently. In our lifetime, healthy 70 year olds have living parents in their 90’s or older. Our current view doesn’t match the role models we grew up with. So forgive us throwing it all up in the air and doing/ being our best selves as we age.
Take my husband, Paul, who is turning 75 today. Please…. Take him. I need a break. (insert drumroll). The photo is him in front of a Robert Lange picture at the Broad Museum in downtown Los Angeles. How should he behave at this age? Honestly, we didn’t know we were aging much less old until we were officially told so when Covid-19 hit. Not sure if adjusting to the threat of Covid or being told we were old was worse. We still haven’t recovered. In fact, we now use it as our best excuse when we forget to bring something to the party.
Even worse is the constant questioning about when I’m going to retire. Paul solved that one by dumping the practice of law and editing and organizing more than 200,000 photos requiring hours of manipulation each day. Where is Paul? Still in front of the computer. Instead of researching and writing briefs, he’s adjusting photos, creating cards and photo filled story books for the grandkids. That is, if he is not out walking our dog, Bogie. I swear everyone in the neighborhood knows them. Paul informed me last week that he has taken far more photos of Bogie than he has of me.
Thank goodness. We think we are young until we look at current pictures. Don’t let the outside world dictate who you will be. Life is too short to waste a single minute.
If you don’t think Vistage peer groups get value at every meeting-from the speakers, the conversations and the input from your peers, don’t click here.