To live in Florida, a state that welcomes retirees with open arms, is to know the aging process -- intimately. The good news is from what I've seen: Your later years like every other stage of life, isn't a crap shoot. Unless you're struck down by an unexpected injury or disease, for the most part, what you DO is what you GET physically, mentally and socially.As I approach the Big 5-0, I'm becoming more and more attentive to the older people around me for tips on how to age well. I see plenty of seniors who have great potential for a vibrant physical, intellectual and social life who have, for whatever reason, cashed out. It's sad. Fortunately, I see even more seniors who are still fully engaged in the world. I like to call them "Xeniors" -- extremely active seniors.
The best example of a Xenior I've encountered is a retired military officer who could perform fifteen pull-ups in the middle of a rigorous workout at a local gym. This was awe inspiring in itself. Then he went and blew me away by telling me he was 70 years old and he had Parkinson's disease. All of a sudden, my ten pull-ups seemed paltry, and I dedicated myself to trying harder.
Out on the water off my beach town, I see Xeniors surfing, body boarding, and swimming like 18 year olds. Xeniors run, jog, walk or ride racing bikes along the beach, sidewalk and roadway every morning. Xeniors golf 18 holes a few times a week without a golf cart. And Xeniors dance the old dances -- swing, salsa and ballroom, where couples actually touch each other -- several times a week. They prove activities are limitless for Xeniors who make an effort to find them.
I even see Xeniors who suffered strokes shuffling along the sidewalk with walkers with tennis balls for feet. You can tell every step they take is a Herculean effort. I applaud every step.
Xeniors are seniors who approach life with all the vigor they can muster and a sparkle in their eye. Engaging the world as their bodies and minds naturally age isn't always easy, but anything less than seizing the challenge and doing their best with what they have to work with would be -- to them -- a shameful surrender in a world full of potential. Full of potential that's too often under-appreciated by men and women a fraction of their age.
I'm absolutely nuts about Xeniors who take full advantage of every moment and invest it toward developing their potential, and, through their positive example and generosity, inspire those around them to follow a similar path.
Xeniors: Alive and Kick'n A**! Thank you for teaching us how to keep on keeping on!
(If you need ideas to pursue the Xenior lifestyle, be sure to stop by RuggedReviews.com. If you just want a Xenior T-shirt for yourself or as an encouraging gift for the Xeniors in your life, go to my new online Xenior Store. Your support is greatly appreciated.)
