I’m turning sixty years old later this year (December), For the record, I have no angst about reaching the big 6-0; it simply means I have a lot of experience and perhaps, if I’ve paid attention, a little wisdom. Perhaps because of this milestone, I’ve recently found myself being fully present to examples of great aging. I’m looking for success tips to live well and well beyond my sixtieth birthday.
Last month, the very week I turned 59, my husband and I vacationed for a week in Marco Island. As we enjoyed morning coffee on the balcony, we noticed an elderly man walking the beach every morning. We guessed that he was in his early eighties.
Unlike most beach walkers, the man did not walk along the water, but up along the hotel side of the beach. I don’t know how far he walked, but it took him a while to go where he was going and then return. He walked slowly, shoulders hunched with age, head down, headphones and cap on. He walked alone.
His journey’s end was a condominium building two doors down from where we were staying. By the time he got back, he was clearly struggling to finish. He walked even slower than when he started. His jacket was wrapped around has waist for the final stretch as the temperatures warmed up. He stopped a few times as he walked up the ramp from the beach and then ultimately disappeared from view as he entered the building.
But, the next morning, he would be back out there. We marveled at his discipline and commitment, in spite of his advanced age. I’m sure he didn’t just start walking in his eighties, though. Walking daily is a good habit that needs to be mindfully cultivated.
How fantastic would it be to have the opportunity, the good health, and the personal motivation to walk on the beach every day twenty years from now? Now that’s aging well!
My #AgingWell commitment: Walk thirty minutes every day, no matter where I am. Exercise is my least favorite thing to do but also what I need to do most. It’s no coincidence that this gentleman crossed my path as I started my sixtieth year.
What are you doing to age well?
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Photo credit: El Biddulph, December 2016, from a balcony over looking Marco Island beach.
