Disease or Stage?
Old age is often regarded as a condition to be cured or endured, but I want to campaign for a change in that view. Illness and failing energy are problems we need to address, but they do not become the focus of our lives. Even in the midst of illness, we still seek to fulfill our goals. The minds and the hearts of old people still think and love; our joy and accomplishments take place between office visits.
The Baby Boomer generation has crossed the line into the retirement community. One or both members of a couple are likely to be retired now. They are not content to be dismissed as "old folks." Many people at retirement age are looking for new opportunities to engage with life. According to Gene Cohen's Stages of Adult Human Potential Development theory, the Liberation Phase occurs between 60 and the early 70s. People at this stage may experience a new-found freedom in being their own person. He describes a new creativity that adds energy and personal freedom in both psychological and literal areas.
New Game, New Rules
Society seems to focus on the things we cannot do as we age, and the aging individuals want to focus on the ways they can enjoy the freedom they have earned. We are slower and more sedate in our movements, and we may take more pills for our ailments, but the mind is better and the endurance is proven. Getting old is an accomplishment. Enjoy it!
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