Aging Gracefully

Let’s face it….Yes, every day is a gift from God. And, every day, we are aging. Some days, more than others, we recognize we are getting older. So what does it mean to be “aging gracefully.”

When I hear the phrase “aging gracefully,” my mind moves from the vision of a feather gently floating to the ground like in the movie Forrest Gump; and sometimes, I think of a brown leaf lying on the grass. Not that I believe that my demise is imminent or my physical expiration day is quickly approaching, I recognize I am not the same girl that I used to be. My knees periodically remind me of the fact that I am getting older.

What does aging gracefully mean to you? Do you consider the activities you can still do and compare them to the now difficult things? Or, do you think of plans you still have and focus on the shifting opportunities to spend time with family and friends? Graceful aging is a process influenced by your attitude.

Scientists believe our cells begin to deteriorate slowly at age 24. Our immune system has a decreased ability to repair or destroy injured cells. The damaged cells accumulate in our bodies and cause other cells to become dysfunctional. This change may manifest as aches and pains, graying hair, and decreased muscle strength. Not all changes with aging are bad. Our brains undergo some positive changes with age, such as giving us calmer reactions to adverse situations. We have experiences that may govern how we react to situations.

Aging gracefully entails walking a tightrope between a youth-obsessed society, which tells us that our value declines as we age, and a culture that says to be older means to be wiser and have valuable experiences that may not be appreciated in all settings.

What can we do to support the process of aging positively? First, accept that you are aging and the changes in your relationship with your parents, children, and friends. Recognize you are not the only one aging-everyone and everything around you is also changing with age.

Keep moving. Engage in exercise. Take a daily walk or join a line dance class. As the commercial says, “A body in motion stays in motion.”

Eat well. Watching what you eat is always important. Healthy eating helps you maintain a healthy weight, gives you good energy, and helps fight off certain diseases. Increase your diet of fruits and vegetables. Decrease your intake of high-fat and salty food.

Keep your mind sharp. Take a class, increase your reading, and play games involving numbers and words.

Take proper care of your health. Your grandmother said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Early detection of potentially adverse changes in aging results in better health outcomes. Stay updated with your annual screening and diagnostic tests.

Get good sleep. Sufficient sleep can reduce stress, affecting blood pressure, glucose levels, and heart disease. Sleep allows our bodies to reset and restore.

Balance your money while you are young. Improve your financial stewardship while you age. Meet with a financial advisor to discover ways to support your retirement and leave your children and grandchildren an inheritance.

These suggestions are little things you can do daily. They may not seem like much, and you’ve probably heard them before, but they can make a big difference in your life as you age. Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Embrace aging and look forward to your future. Stay engaged in living. God’s grace is sufficient to help you live a positive life as you age.

Dr. Denyce Watties-Daniels Assistant Professor at Coppin State University

DWatties-Daniels@coppin.edu healthytips025@gmail.com