It’s that time of year again when I start making a list. Oh, not for Christmas – for the doctor. It’s time for my annual physical and I have to make a list of topics to talk with the doctor about, because even though I will be bringing my body with me, I will invariably forget something about it. I learn a lot about myself during these visits: what is working well and what is not, how much I hate the phrase “a natural part of aging”, and not to schedule appointments where you have to weigh in the Monday after Thanksgiving.

I may be “getting up there”, but I am not old. I am merely “aging”.

I’ll be 70 at my next birthday and, in the past, that was a formidable and scary number. Now it’s just a number. I am very grateful to be in a position to feel that way – it came with some very intentional work on my part.

I was at a theatrical event last week and arrived a little early. Apparently, that is what “people of a certain age” do, as it was me and a lot of slow-walking, silver-haired folks, and a lot of canes and walkers. While I was glad to see people getting out, I was horrified to think that someone would think I was “one of them”. These people were OLD. Not me.

Here’s the difference for me: Old is not just a physical state. It is a mind/body/spirit thing. Yes, none of us can escape the fact that the body ages. It happens to every living entity. But, there are things we can do to slow the pace. Diet and exercise have been proven to have tremendous health benefits. Being attuned to your body is very important, so that if and when something seems awry, you can take the appropriate measures to get yourself back on course.

Then there’s the mind. It is equally important to keep yourself mentally stimulated. Have conversations, explore new topics, visit new places, do puzzles, learn a new language – the possibilities are endless. Above all, remain curious.

It’s also a spiritual thing. What is your belief about aging? Do you feel your best years are behind you, so why bother? Do you have a spiritual belief and practice? Finding what really matters to you, and finding ways to connect to it are just as important as mental and physical stimulations. I like to think of it as “Intentional Gratitude” – focusing on what is positive in your life, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.

Which leads to perhaps the most important aspect of all: Your mindset. How you feel about yourself at any age or stage truly affects the energy you have and the energy you extend to others. There are those with conditions that would be debilitating to many of us, but these amazing humans – like Michael J. Fox or Stephen Hawking – have/had the awareness of the gifts and assets they possess, and they used them to truly live an inspiring life. They are/were aware of their physical limitations, but that was more of a starting block, if you will, than a burden. It is easy to fall into the “poor me’s”, but it only serves to make you and your world smaller. Find what (still) works mentally, physically and spiritually – and use it.

And lastly, surround yourself with a community. Your community should include like-minded people, but sprinkle it with diversity. I do things with men and women, older or younger than me, from different ethnic, religious or socio-economic backgrounds. I learn from each of them and am inspired by them. I also go to a lot of classic rock concerts and see performers well into their 80s acting FAR younger than their chronological age. Not only does the music invigorate me, but their living their lives fully gives me inspiration.

Someone gets old when their age increases and their mind/body/spirit decreases. While I can’t do anything about the first part of that equation, you can be sure I’ll be doing what I can to affect the other part of it!

Rock on!