When I was a young child, anyone in their mid twenties was ‘old’ to me. Now that I am in my late 30s, I realize that a person in their mid twenties is young…practically a baby. Bernard Baruch, a business executive, says, “Old age is always fifteen years older that I am.” I agree. “Old” is a relative term.
According to a recent survey commissioned by the Metlife Mature Market Institute, thirty percent of those under 30 years old say that persons 61 to 70 years of age are “old.” Those over 50, however, say that “old” means you are over 71. Interestingly, no one over 65 thinks that a 41 to 50-year-old is old.
No matter what age is old, old people are generally considered to be out of touch with the modern world and no longer able to contribute to society. Increasingly, however, reality shows us otherwise. In the last 12 months, for example, many seniors have shown that they will not let their age define them.
Sixty-year old, Steve Fossett, became the first person to fly around the world alone without stopping or refueling.
To raise money for the homeless, Bill Anderson, 78, completed a coast-to-coast bicycle ride from San Diego, California to Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
Lucille Borgen amazed the crowd at the 62nd Annual Water Ski National Championship by winning the Women’s slalom and tricks event on her 91st birthday. She is the oldest competitor to ever ski at these nationals.
Doris “Granny D” Haddock became a U.S. Senator from New Hampshire at the age of 94.
In order to raise money for an orphanage in Haiti, George Brunstad, the uncle of movie star Matt Damon, became the oldest person to swim the English Channel when he completed this fete on his 70th birthday.
Through their actions, these seniors show us that although getting older is a part of living, it does not mean that you are limited. Indeed, these seniors show us that it is okay to dream big dreams and to attempt great fetes. While not everyone can swim the English Channel or be a U.S. Senator, we each have much to contribute. I see this every day at the Ardmore Village, where seniors chose not to let their age define them.
As George Burns once said, “You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.”
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