By Julie E 
Photo Credit ( Pixabay )
I posted some pictures of myself running without shirts on social media last summer. Sure, it was a little conceited and perhaps motivated by conceit, but I explained it away as a farewell to my fifties. Ultimately, I was going to turn sixty, and I worried that my body would fail me soon and I would have to replace my running clothing with something more covert.
If you were born in 1964, as I was, you belong to the final generation of baby boomers, and this year we reached the significant milestone of becoming sixty. Some find it terrifying, while others brush it off since they think age is only a number. About approaching my 60s, I would say that I am 20% nervous, 40% uninterested, and 40% excited.
In 2014, as I had been since I was twelve, I firmly believed that I would die at the age of fifty, just like my father. Much of my life was governed by this concept; I adopted a “you only live once” mentality, spent carelessly, and ignored the future. I was confused when my 50th birthday arrived, and I quickly descended into a severe depression that lasted the majority of my 50s. Those were difficult years, full of introspection and personal development, with little time for retirement planning.
The shadow of 65—the so-called age of retirement, when Social Security kicks in and professional importance starts to wane—has many boomers in their early 60s feeling conflicted. When our parents and grandparents reached that age, their health and vigor frequently declined noticeably. Still, the story is evolving. People in their 70s and 80s are still influential and active in our day and age. Take Cher, who had a hit song at the age of 77, or Madonna, who is still touring at the age of 65. Even at eighty-one, President Biden is still a political force.
For some of us, having parents who are still active in their 80s and 90s is a blessing. However, our grandparents were considerably older, gray-haired, and inactive when we look back on them at 60. In contrast, individuals like as Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney are reinventing the concept of aging.
That reminds me of those pictures with no shirts on. Even though my physique has changed since I hit fifty, I continue to challenge myself. Yes, I no longer look forty, but sixty? Perhaps. It is arbitrary. The younger guys at the gym tell me all the time that I can still run circles around them. But I can’t help but think, “That’s how I used to look,” when I see them.
Naturally, aging has its peculiarities. Most of us need glasses these days, but I’m lucky to still have 20/20 eyesight. But I can no longer hear as well as I once could. I’ve gone from using one hearing aid to two during the past ten years, and it’s possible that I’ll keep wearing them into my sixties.
Mostly, my memory is still rather sharp. I can remember baseball statistics and phone numbers from old pals, albeit it often takes a little longer to retrieve the information. Even if my physique might not be what it used to be, I am still grateful for my full head of hair, even if it does need some assistance from hair growth serums and dye.
Nowadays, getting toners, moisturizers, anti-aging products, and sometimes Botox in the mornings feels like having a little spa day. Those days are long gone, when I could get ready in ten minutes or less. I regard my practice as an acknowledgement that I want to make the most of my time, even though some may consider it conceit.
It seems like a mixture of acceptance, excitement, and nostalgia to turn sixty. As someone who battled depression, addiction, and personal demons for the majority of the last ten years and never imagined they’d live past fifty, I can genuinely say that I’m excited about this new chapter in my life.
Each of us is nearing 60 in a unique way. While some, like myself, are attempting to cling on to a little bit of youth, others are embracing their wrinkles and gray hair as badges of honor. Furthermore, why not? Maybe it’s time to start listening to ourselves a little more—we’ve spent our entire lives listening to other people.
It is up to us to reinvent what 60 feels and looks like as we enter this decade. It can feel a little bit like 50 if we squint just the right amount. We were raised with the notion that we would remain “Forever Young,” so even if time passes, we may cherish the aspects of life that give us life.
I’ll celebrate turning 60. With a bit more hair dye and Botox, perhaps, and a nice day ideal for a long run, I want to see another naked photo!