On Aging From My Mentor

A mentor passed on these insights to me about aging. I approached Wayne a few months ago because I admire him. He is a Vietnam veteran, a retired executive, and a community servant. I always found him to be thoughtful and self-reflective. He is also a fun guy to hang with.

At seventy-nine, Wayne is a decade older than I am. He navigated the seventies, which I am just about to head in to. I suspected he's thought about what life was like in his seventies. He didn't just let it pass with time. He thought about how to live it and continue using his God-given gifts to serve others.

When we met for lunch recently, he shared his summary of what he calls "Aging by Decade." I share this with you, my reader. As you enter this new year, I thought you might find it food for thought.

Aging by Decade

Single Digit - Decade of Innocence

Ten - Teens - Learning that life is not fair

The 20s - Entering adulthood

The 30s - Career focused

The 40s - Pretending to be in your 30s

The 50s - Financial security focused

The 60s - Transitioning toward retirement

The 70s - Getting older (Wayne said, “If you are not old by the time you enter the 70s, you will be by the time you exit.”)

The 90s - The reward and penalty of longevity

The 100s - Inspirational

What about Me?

According to Wayne's Aging by Decade, I am moving into the "Getting older" decade. This thought consumed me for a while as I thought, "You don't have much time left, Charlie."

And that might be true, but it isn't up to me how much time I have. It is God’s decision on when to pull the plug on Charlie Paparelli's life. My job is to keep on living. And this was the focus of our discussion over lunch.

What’s the Takeaway?

I can't stop the aging process. But I can learn from people who have aged and people who study aging. They can tell me what they have learned and observed. Here is the list for maximizing my seventies decade.

1. Food - Eat real food in moderation.

2. Sleep - Get proper sleep.

3. Exercise - Stay active.

4. Intimacy - First with your wife or husband but also family and friends.

5. Purpose - Be focused on serving and creating. Stay important to others.

These are my thoughts as we enter 2023. What about you? What are your thoughts?