Escondido, CA

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

If not at 58, then when will it be time to think about putting old on hold?

Unfortunately, an "I don't want to think about getting old now" mindset at age 58 usually results in premature decline. At age 58, if you are not actively preparing and making an effort to Put Old on Hold, then you are setting yourself up to become part of the traditional decline oriented senior culture.

At age 58, if you are not thinking about the future, that means you are living mindlessly, accepting life as it happens. When you do that, one day, perhaps after a couple of years in unplanned traditional retirement, you will be dealing with some kind of decline issue that could have been avoided and you will be asking yourself, "How did this happen?"

It is also unfortunate that at age 58, when you are relatively healthy and everything in your life is going reasonably well, there is the tendency to assume your present condition is how it will be forever. Intellectually, you know that's not true, but human nature being what it is, you probably choose to ignore reality.

Right there, in a nutshell, is why you get "old", the definition of "old" being, "experiencing decline that could have been avoided."



Youth is such a con artist; it mesmerizes you into rejecting reality. It sneaks away so unperceptibly that you don't see it go, even as you admire your waning youthful image in the mirror. In response to the seemingly unchanging reflection you see, you fool yourself into believing you don't have to do anything to keep what you see. You are satisfied that you are holding your own. At age 58 (or any age over 40) if that's your attitude, you are living with blinders on. Youth is a gift that requires nothing on your part; extending youthful attributes into your mature years takes effort with careful preplanning.

Most people still don't realize that the lifespan has increased by 30 years in the past century. They are not mindful of those potential "bonus" years that can be filled either with pain or joyful living. That indisputable fact makes it imperative for anyone who wants to avoid premature decline down the road to plan ahead.

Bad things happen to good people who try to do all the right things. That's life. But you also have free will to decide how to live your life. The truth is that the sooner in life you think about and prepare for the future, the better your chances will be that in spite of possibly being hit by curve balls, you can hit home runs with wise choices made before decline takes hold.

Yes, at age 58, you had better prepare and plan for the future you want. That's the only way you have a chance to beat Mother or Father Time at their aging game. They will win if your mindset about anti-aging preparation and information is "I think being 58 this is not for me yet."

Barbara Morris, R. Ph.

Image F/X Publications

Escondido, CA

760-480-2710

First Url: Put Old on Hold Website

Second Url: No More Little Old Ladies Website