Older Without Being Old

Tips For Staying Young While Getting Older

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

I'm about to celebrate my 60th birthday and I'm finally starting to feel old. Help! Everything they always said would happen is starting to happen to me: I'm feeling low on energy, I'm becoming close-minded, and I'm less apt to try new things. How can I grow old gracefully without "acting old?"

Sincerely,

Oldie But Goodie

Dear Oldie But Goodie,

Just because you're getting older in years, doesn't mean you have to turn into an "old person." Your body is definitely going through some changes, but there are many things you can do to stay young!

Energy:

There's no question about it -- younger people have more energy than older people, but that doesn't mean you have to slow to a crawl just because you're aging. Energy comes from two places -- good physical care of yourself and an optimistic outlook on life. If there are things you'd like to do, you're going to be more excited about doing them, and you'll find the energy to do them more easily than if you have to balance your checkbook or take out the trash. Fill your life with things that you want to do and take care of yourself to give yourself more energy and a resulting more youthful outlook.

Open mindedness:

Curmudgeons are usually associated with older people. Stick-in-the-mud is also a term associated, for the most part, with older people. Don't be those two things! Stay open minded to youth and youthful ideas -- whether it's computer technology or midnight bowling parties! Be willing to try things you don't know about or that are out of your realm of experience. Just because you're a senior citizen does not mean you know everything -- admit it, and find out how much fun you'll have!

Flexibility:

You've been around the block, and you know what can happen from certain lifestyles and behaviors because you've seen more than some people. However ... that doesn't mean you shouldn't try new things. Take baby steps with new opportunities. You don't have to get through the entire yoga class, but if you try half of it, you're being flexible and becoming more youthful in your outlook. If you've never eaten sushi because no one you know eats raw fish, try a California roll without the raw fish in it, and you'll be able to hang at a sushi bar without doing everything you didn't want to do.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

© 2004-2009 AskApril.com, LLC. All rights reserved. AskApril®, AskApril.com®, and Ask April® are registered trademarks owned by Masini Enterprises, Inc. This material can only be republished and redistributed if it is kept in it's original form, including, but not limited to, all AskApril branding, banners, links, books, and credits.