70 and just getting the hang of life!

by Terry Ballantyne

Writing about aging in America is interesting to me because I am front and center as people downsize, shift gears and reimagine their lives.  As they do they share so much about how they feel about the march of time.

Do you,  the you who lives somewhere inside your body, feel 60? 70? 80?  Likely no. You may have more trouble leaping out of bed, or your knuckles may be swollen or your back might ache a bit at night, but do you really feel that different?

When I was studying meditation, Deepak Chopra asked us who was listening to his lecture?  Who was the being absorbing the information?  Was it the same person who you remember being 2?  Being 12? Being 22?  And in that moment I realized I was still that same person.  I still looked out from the same vessel and still felt like me!

Sure my point of view has changed, my pleasures and desires have shifted, I can’t pivot like Steph Curry,  but my zest, curiosity and determination are unchanged.  And my confidence is at an alltime time!

What is  clear to me  in talking to my peers and seniors is that none of us are ready to throw in the towel and watch CNN endlessly. ( especially now!). We are really exceptional at our chosen skills having honed them for 20,30 or 40 years, so giving them up is unthinkable.  We are often still so wrapped up in our work identity that we cannot see what we would do absent that activity.  Many just finally feel capable at 70!

I have clients in their 90s that moved at 80 and have become friends. They are wellsprings of knowledge, wit and history. They have a certain equanimity because the have seen so much.  And many are still sculpting, painting, gardening, and taking classes!

I think the best part of being over 60 is you are more calm.  You are not competing so much and are contributing more.  You are honing your craft and sharing with people. You are more intentional about your QTR.  Quality Time Remaining.

So don’t let your mitochondria know your chronological age.  ( more on mitochondria later). Keep feeling 2, 12 22  because your spirit never ages.