Seventy is the New Outspoken

Excerpt from Daily Cures, Wisdom for Healthy Living by Connie Mason Michaelis

One of my favorite websites to recommend is Changing Aging by Dr. Bill Thomas. I was drawn to an article entitled “Seventy is the New Outspoken” by Carrie Knowles. The title was enough to grab me. Being 70 is a privilege and a gift. It is time to embrace the gift and make use of our years of experience and, yes, even our mistakes, to do something bigger and better. It is a special time to live large and be a light to the world. On any given day, we may think that being 70 is hard, but would you honestly like to be growing up today? Our grandchildren can’t even play outside without fear of being abducted.

Knowles suggests we act our age! Making use of these years we’ve been given is a sacred duty. Instead of lamenting our physical ills, we could use that energy to take on a new scheme - a 70s scheme! And then, of course, we could do an 80s endeavor and a 90s new life! So if you’re lucky enough to be 70, here are a few ideas:

·       Be a mentor. It is easier than you think to find younger folks who need your ear and your advice. Have meaningful conversations and train yourself to listen more than you talk.

·       Pick an issue and become educated about it - the environment, politics, school lunches, the arts, guns, climate change, healthcare---and then do something about it.

·       Find a new hobby and make new friends who share that new interest because it builds community.

As the author says, “Take care of yourself. Exercise even if you have never exercised before. Exercise your body and your voice. Be strong. Be focused. Raise a little hell. Have a little fun, and don’t ever think for a minute that there’s nothing you can do to change things.” Don’t think of yourself as old; think of yourself as a warrior.