What Does it Mean to Age Gracefully?

Speaking up against the pushback of this term

Aging Gracefully can mean different things to different people I suppose. I am a big fan of the term, but I think it means something different to me than to others who rally against it.

To me, Aging Gracefully means acceptance. You are not filling your face with Botox or starving yourself for 6-pack abs. You are not fighting the aging process, you are embracing your age and who you are. There is an element of ease that comes from embracing yourself and your age, whatever that may be.

I am 52. I am proud of my age, and how far I have come. My facial crinkles are from decades of smiling, crying, and living my life. The “wisdom sparkles” in my hair become more prominent every year. I told my son that when I go completely silver I will dye my hair purple. Because why not? Until then, I wear these sparkles with pride.

Aging Gracefully does not mean giving up. I want to remain strong and active for as long as possible, so while I accept my age, I am not dead yet! I don’t want to hasten my demise so I work to keep my body functioning at its best, to the best of my ability.

It can be a messy process, and definitely non-linear. I don’t do everything perfectly every day. Sometimes getting out of bed is a challenge. Sometimes I am doing the bare minimum. I go through phases of doing all of the self care, then times with very little and just getting by. I accept myself and my journey and show myself compassion for when I am struggling, and feel joy for when I am not.

I eat well most of the time (80% is my goal) so that I have the energy to do all the things I do every day. Food is fuel, and sometimes it is pleasure, and sometimes it is numbing. I have learned to notice when I am numbing, and dial it back to feel my feelings instead.

I move my body every day, and take at least 1 rest day per week (I often joke, if God rested on the 7th day, so can I). Rest has not been my strong suit most of my life. As a Type A recovering perfectionist, that is still a work in progress. Finding the balance between movement and rest is definitely part of Aging Gracefully. As is getting sufficient sleep.

I move to feel good, strong and mobile, not to lose weight. My weight fluctuates a bit through the year with the seasons, but I don’t worry about it. I feel comfortable in my skin most of the time, regardless of the size or shape of my body. It does not determine my self worth (I can finally write after years of therapy, journaling, and meditation…).

I have pretty extreme longevity in my family (my grandmother lived to be 106). I want to live those years as well as I can. I don’t want to be withering away, unable to care for myself. I want to practice yoga and swim for at least the next 3-4 decades, and that requires daily maintenance.

Aging gracefully is a mindset of self-love, self-compassion, and allowing yourself to do the best you can while not giving up. You surrender to the aging process without allowing it to age you faster than necessary.

So many of my yoga students in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s are perfect examples of this. They practice yoga to feel strong and to be able to move their bodies more easily. Yoga gives them peace inside their minds when life throws a curveball, as it so often does. It helps them feel better while walking, playing golf, hiking, or the other sports and activities that they do.

I believe in Aging Gracefully with Strength, Balance, Mobility, and Mindfulness. I see practicing yoga as cross training for all that life brings you. That’s what Aging Gracefully means to me.

What does Aging Gracefully mean to you? How are you embracing/fighting the aging process? Is it something you think about? Do you feel judged by that term? Let’s start a conversation!