GROWING BOLDER WITH

Steven Petrow, 64

Nobody wants to turn into their parents as they age, or at least that’s what Steven Petrow thought. When the noted newspaper columnist started a list of what he called stupid things his parents did he was surprised to discover it was his mindset that made their acts stupid. What he learned was that people should not fear age, they should feel pride in it.

Petrow is an award-winning journalist and author of the book, “Stupid Things I Won’t Do When I Get Old.” It starts out humorous and lighthearted but quickly aims straight for the heart as he offers something to consider to help create an old age filled with respect and fulfillment.

“I was in my 50’s when I started paying attention to how my parents were aging,” Petrow told Growing Bolder. "I started keeping a list I called, ‘Stupid Things They Do.’ I wrote a column about it in the New York Times which turned out to be one of their most popular articles.”

Petrow explained he was not trying to be critical but wanted to call attention to understanding why people age the way they do.

He admitted he found himself sliding into some of the negative stereotypes of age. “I made it a point to stop sending out birthday cards that make fun of older people and I stopped lying about my age on dating apps,” confessed Petrow. “As I started adding my behaviors up, I suddenly realized the problem. We are all conditioned to believe there’s something wrong with being older. The truth is, older people have more experience, we have more wisdom, and thanks to greater longevity, we may have more time than any other generation.”

Through firsthand experiences and conversations, he now suggests we all reexamine our beliefs and try to see aging in a new light -- one of vitality, adventure, and joy.

“This entire project has pushed me to realize that every day matters, as does how you choose to live your days,” he said. “But I have discovered, we fall into negative stereotypes out of fear. Not a fear of getting older, but a fear of getting left behind, being left out, isolated and lonely: ‘The kids don’t call, I really shouldn’t drive anymore, there is no place for me to go.’ It is up to us to help our family and friends get over that. Please, reach out to whoever you can. Let them know you care. Include them in your life. Not only will they feel less lonely, but it will also instill in you the understanding that you have made a significant difference in someone else’s life.”