Dear Diary,
My 71st birthday was last weekend. A few years before that, I turned 12.
I remember more about that 12th birthday than the 71st. My parents took me and my dressed-up seven-year-old little brother to a nice dinner at a fancy restaurant on the top floor of a downtown Dallas skyscraper. I wore a new black velveteen dress with a pretty pink corsage I was given for the occasion.
Except for the past few years, thinking about my actual age (i.e., the number) hasn’t seemed particularly relevant. This year I thought about it a little too much. I tried to come up with something profound to share about turning 71, but all I could come up with was, “How the heck did this happen?”
COMING TO TERMS WITH AGING
Despite chronological age, people die every day from diseases, accidents, natural disasters, and a wide range of other unforeseen circumstances. If we manage to survive our childhood years, our teens, and adulthood through retirement, we have no choice but to face the mythical “growing older” experience known as “aging.”
The challenge here is that no one has prepared us for this phase of life. “Aging” is defined as a “. . . period of life when we begin to slow down and experience many age-related changes.” But, many of us don’t slow down. The years continue to pass by and we are surprised when we run out of cake long before we run out of candles.
Looking back, I saw that the other phases of my life had been fueled by deep-seated hope and optimism. I believed something magical could happen at any minute; it was always just right around the corner. At this point, I wanted that hope back with all its promise for bright tomorrows.
FUTURE LONGEVITY
The majority of us will look to genetics to predict our future longevity, our physical and mental health, and overall quality of life. My grandmother lived happily until age 93. She was so loving, so full of optimism, and always cheerful. She called me the “apple of her eye.”
In her early 70s, my grandmother had some heart issues that were remedied with the insertion of a pacemaker. This device represented one of the latest advancements in medical science and technology at the time. Without it, she may not have lived much longer – much less an additional 20+ years.
On the other hand, my mother grew up during the Depression. She began a lifelong relationship with Lucky Strikes at the age of 15. That was in the 1930s, when smoking was a symbol of glamor and sophistication. Little was known then about the dangers of smoking and its potential for becoming a habit many could not break. Sadly, my mom passed away two weeks following a cancer diagnosis at the age of 72. That’s just one year older than I am now. Could that mean that this coming year is going to be my last? The only way to know is to carry on and find out.
MORTALITY
In case you haven’t noticed, we live in a death-denying culture that makes the topic of our demise one to avoid. Early writings show that we (humans) have long been fearful of death. There are plenty of good reasons not to dwell on it, but in my experience, ignoring the inevitable is not a great idea.
For more very real and uplifting content, be sure to read my next Diary entry. You’ll be glad you did.
~Lisa
P.S. Longevity is not determined solely by genetics. Even if parents and grandparents pass away at early ages, lifestyle choices matter. Nutrition, movement, weight, relationships, and more, are all keys to healthy longevity.
