Growing old does not mean giving up on the things we once did during our youth, albeit done a little slower, nor does it mean we stop learning or trying out new things! If you're in the senior's category, you are never too old to set another goal, and another, and another. As it was put to me quite bluntly, “When we finish growing, we're finished!” How matter of fact is that?
Visitors to many Asian cities can attest to seeing senior aged people working in security roles in shopping malls, as shop assistants, cleaners in food courts, night shift porters, taxi drivers, even at fast food stores like McDonalds. While there are probably many reasons why these people are still working, the fact remains these people are still contributing to society and being valued. Furthermore, while they are growing in years they are still recognized as being productive, even though their wages may not be high compared to Australian salary standards.
There are many organizations around the world today where senior aged people are working in middle and executive management positions. Many have the accumulated experience and skills which qualify them to be holding these positions. These senior executives are probably setting new goals for their businesses and teams, but I wonder how many are setting goals for their own personal lives?
In recent times we have had presidents, not only of corporations, but of countries who easily fall into the category the United Nations deem a person as being in their senior years, that is, over the age of 60 years. While there may be some conjecture as to the appropriateness of someone being in their 80s, even at age 90 years to be head of governments or corporations, they are nevertheless still working and making an impact on their organisations or constituents. In the Book of Proverbs (16:31), it is said that "Gray hair is a crown of glory," however the second more important part of the verse adds, "it is gained in a righteous life."
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The story is told that when the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was old, an admirer asked him how he was able to keep writing so beautifully. Longfellow wasn't fazed with the question from the young admirer. Pointing to a nearby apple tree he replied, "That tree is very old, but I never saw prettier blossoms... The tree grows a little new wood every year, and...out of that new wood those blossoms come. So, I try to grow a little...each year."
C.S.Lewis once said, "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." That said, I am reminded of a Sunday School Bible story of Joshua and Caleb, and ten other men who were asked by Moses to investigate the land of Canaan. They returned to report back to Moses. They spoke of its abundance of produce and of the land 'flowing with milk and honey'. Ten men exclaimed that they felt like 'grasshoppers' and were defeatist in their attitude to proceed in taking the land. However, at aged eighty-five years Caleb spoke up and was convinced that they should enter Canaan. Caleb was not allowing the impediments put forward by the others from achieving his dream and that of the others. And they did!
There are many stories of seniors, both men and women who have achieved great feats of accomplishments.
In 2014, a 73-year-old South African heart surgeon had become the oldest person to swim the English Channel. Otto Thaning said he had wanted to show what older people are capable of if they look after themselves.
At age 114 years, Jeanne Louise Calment appeared briefly in the 1990 film "Vincent and Me" as herself. She recalled, as a young person she was selling coloured pencils to the famous painter Van Gogh and saw the Eiffel Tower being built. This brief appearance made her the oldest person ever to appear in a motion picture.
In 2023 aged 92 years, Rupert Murdoch finally relinquished his chairmanship of the Fox Corporation and News Corporation business empire.
At the age of 86 years, Ernestine Shepherd became the world's oldest female bodybuilder as declared by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2010 and 2011. The US-based pensioner embarked on her fitness journey later than most but has since become a world-renowned bodybuilder.
The founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Colonel Harland Sanders was 62-years-old when he established the famous brand. He had failed numerous times but never gave up on his dream.
Robert Menzies was the oldest serving Australian Prime Minister, and the longest to hold office as Prime Minister. He was in office twice, from 1939 to 1941 and from 1949 to 1966. He retired from his position and from Parliament when he was 71 years old.
Growth, especially growing old with a sparkle and glint in one's eyes, driven by new dreams and goals doesn't come easily. It will stretch and challenge us to rethink society's assumptions. We live in a fickle society where a few wrinkles can devastate our self-worth. Fortunately, we don't have to be victims of that value system such that once we are on a pension or receive a senior's card, we are told that we have passed the time to live productively and are destined for an aged-care home. Indeed, it can sometimes cost people friendships and even cost them financially if they want to break away from this stereotypical view. However, when older folks are committed to growth they cannot settle for ignorance and resign to an 'it's-all-over' attitude because learning, understanding and accumulated experience is a consequence of continual growth. It was Mark Twain who said, "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter!" The bottom line is that growth is our responsibility.
Source: Media from Wix
The poet Robert Browning wrote [paraphrased], "Why do we stay on the earth except to grow?" Few of us dedicate ourselves to the process of growth. That's because growth requires change, and we're uncomfortable with the things change brings. It can be painful. We have been ageing from the moment we were conceived. In fact, on the day we were born, most of us would have been already nine months old. Therefore, fretting about getting older is as fruitless as worrying about the sun setting each day. Instead of worrying about the time we have left on earth, we should maximise every day of it and say, "I'm never too old to set another goal today!"
We shouldn't let the thought of growing old depress us, make us anxious, or even be fatalistic in our outlook of life. American author, social observer and lecturer Gail Sheehy said, "If we don't change, we won't grow, and if we don't grow, we're not really living. Growth demands a temporary surrender of security. It means giving up familiar but limiting patterns, safe but unrewarding work, values no longer believed in, relationships that have lost their meaning... Taking a new step is what we fear most, yet our real fear should be the opposite." It is not necessarily a case of running away from such things, but more so how we tackle the changes that impact us. There is no denying that there are skills in managing the aging process. While we cannot stop ageing, how we live our lives, how we look after our physical, mental, social and spiritual selves are important.
One way is to be continuously aware of our environment, our surroundings and to challenge ourselves and have a goal. It doesn't have to be something big in the eyes of others. Just doing something with our being can add value and give a purpose in living.
Another way is to not give up on ourselves. Don't allow ourselves to be run down, both physically and mentally. Studies show that good health is the number-one factor in determining the level of happiness in old age. Eating healthily, exercising often, consuming water and getting regular medical check-ups are important. While these may not guarantee us living longer, they will improve our quality of life. Learning a new skill, for example, learning a foreign language or improving computer literacy helps in stimulating our mind. Taking up a new hobby or even revisiting a hobby of our youth, for example crocheting or building model trains, will help maintain our dexterity, stimulate our creativity, and could even help broaden our social network if we decide to join a club or local community class.
Engaging with new people is a great way to grow. If your budget allows, travel can provide the opportunity to experience other cultures where there can be great learnings to be had if approached in the right way. This may also give you the opportunity to apply your new foreign language skills. Of course one does not have to travel to get out and engage with people.
Source: Media from Wix
Maintaining our appearance is also important for our personal wellbeing. Psychologists tell us that when we look good, we feel good, we have a positive outlook, and are inspired to do things. I recently watched a social media clip of a scruffy elderly gentleman who was given a hair-cut, beard trim and a total make-over. To watch him go through the transformation and to hear him speak of how positive it made him feel lifted my spirit as to how important looking well-groomed is to a person's wellbeing. We also need to dress appropriately but stylishly for our age and as our budget will allow.
Even the psalmist David was conscious of old age. He wrote in Psalm 71:9 and 14, “Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent. But I will hope continually and will praise You [God] yet more and more." Being part of a faith community and developing our spiritual connectedness is another important ingredient in living a purposeful and fulfilled life.
From the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), it was reported that in 1901, older people constituted 4.0% of Australia's population. This proportion increased to 6.4% in 1921, 7.4% in 1941 and 8.5% in 1961. Between 1971 and 2011, the proportion of Australia’s population aged 65 years and over increased to 14%. By 2066, it is projected that older people in Australia will make up between 21% and 23% of the total population (ABS 2018). For those aged 85 and over, the proportion had increased from 0.5% (63,200) in 1970, to 1.1% (190,400) in 1995, to 2.1% at 30 June 2020 (528,000).
As health outcomes continue to improve and mortality rates decline, the life expectancy of Australians is continuing to increase. It is projected that life expectancy is assumed to increase to 92.2 years for men, and 95 years for women by the year 2050-51.
If this is to eventuate, this can only mean one thing and that is; we all need to continue to grow and produce 'the blossoms' that Longfellow had described coming out from the new wood of the old apple tree. This speaks of the creativity within each of us as we continue to pursue new goals, despite our age with the same excitement and enthusiasm gained from the adventures of our youth. It is said, “let your old men continue to dream dreams.” Let us not settle for the excuse in the idiom, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks" but take on the challenge that “It is never too late to learn.”
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