Currently I’m reading “Secrets of Aging Well, Get Outside, the Fitness you can’t get in a Gym, by Martin Pazzani. I was struck by the data on page 30 (see picture above) as it reminded me that I’m letting the age factor start to limit my possibilities. I let the buzz words of RETIREMENT, SENIOR CITIZEN, OLD, OVER THE HILL AT 60, etc., creep in to define me and what is still possible in my life. Even in a previous Trail Tip, I limited what is possible when I said “I may not be able to climb all the 14ers in Colorado.” And now I have to ask myself, why can’t I set a goal now to climb all the 14ers in Colorado in the next 5 to 8 years? As I’ll still be a “Young Old” person. As I take this journey -with many friends- into the end of “middle age” and starting to be “Young Old”; it’s time to drop these buzz words about being old and start to live in the world of what is possible.
In hiking, it’s time to start dreaming and planning for what is possible. Gone is the limited dream of doing “some 14ers” and replacing it with starting a plan to do all the 14ers (58 of them in Colorado). And just to make it a stretch goal, I may add in some of the 13ers (584 of them) and 12ers (676 of them). This with having the goal of putting these Trail Tips into a book, once I get 100 of them done (this is number 89.)
In our personal life, what should be the dreams, plans, and goals for our lives that will take us into the “oldest old” stage in life. What are the adventures and ministries to be planned with my wife, Arlene? In the past, it was get the kids launched, quit work, move into retirement, get on Social Security/Medicare, and slow down. Instead, it’s time to relook at our dreams and passions; taking time to turn them into realities for the calling and ministry that God wants to do in our lives as a couple. As an example, one goal we already have is to start taking piano lessons.
In work, I’ve fallen into that trap of the “December 2025 date”, where I can claim Social Security at full retirement age. Why do I think I need to stop at this age, when I’m just starting to peak? Why would I want to throw away all these skills I’ve developed over 40+ years? The mind set should be on how do I pass these skills onto the younger generations. I may not need to work full time at this age, but I can use my work talents to have a positive impact on others. And even learn new skills myself.
It’s time to reset our frame of reference for what we think is possible as we age. It’s easy to let labels, titles, and views we have of our parents/grandparents define how we should live when we get to “their age”. It’s time to revisit our dreams, goals, and plans for our hiking, personal, and work lives with those closest to us. It’s time to have that mindset of Bruce Willis in the movie RED (Retired, Extremely Dangerous), who after beating up the bad guy, -half his age- told him, “Old Man, My A**”
Al Andersen 