This Thanksgiving was very enlightening for me. My enlightenment had nothing to do with how to make a creamier cheesecake or the fact that my turkey brine resulted in a very moist tasty turkey, it had to do with how we age.

According to my kids, I’m as old as dirt.  They asked me, “What was life like back in the days of Adam and Eve?” I’m okay with getting older (I hope I’m around to see my kids at my age – the little buggers) I find that along with age comes a certain wisdom, peace of mind, and reduction in stress that I wish I had developed when I was younger.  On top of all the Zen stuff, getting older sure beats the alternative.

“Getting” vs. “Doing”

As I started to say this Thanksgiving was enlightening because I saw how people in my age group (and even a few years younger than I am) are “getting” old.  They seemed to have resolved themselves to the fact that along with aging comes weight gain, hot flashes, aches, pains, slowing down and grabbing ibuprofen for pain. Sort of like “catching” a long-term cold, these folks are “getting” old.

I’d rather “do” old age.  In other words, respect the aches, pains and conditions that come along with aging, but not succumbing to them.  “Doing” old means having to do a few more things that I didn’t have to do when I was younger such as intentionally working out, eating the right things (such as fruits, veggies and healthy fats), laying off some of the bad things (such as too much fast food, alcohol and sweets).

Doing old may involve taking a few more vitamins, going outside to get a bit more sunlight, engaging the brain by learning something new and getting a full night’s rest, but you know what?  I’d rather do that than have to lumber around holding my side in pain as I walk from room to room.

Don’t “Do” Too Much

If you’re like me and already started to get old, you’ll have to slowly transition into doing old.  Take it a little at a time and don’t over do it.  Doing too much too quickly will only make you feel older.

When it’s all said and done, and its time for me to depart this earth, I’d like for folks to say “She did old well!”