50s is the new 30s (Agencing Gracefully)

In the 1960s, the famous band Queen sang, “you’ve had your time, you’ve had your power, you’re yet to have your finest hour.”

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Tell this to a 50 something, and see the reaction. But all things aside, 50s and 60s can bring you the time of your life. Do you look at some people in their 50s and think, ‘they don’t look a day older than 30?’ Well, 30 might be hyperbole but yes, you can age gracefully. Or as the sommeliers would say ‘age like fine wine’.

You have spent a major part of your life working, chasing deadlines, nourishing families, investing, protecting your health, and securing a future. Now, it’s time for you to take care of your mind, body, and soul.

While a lot of people struggle to accept this, you could be the one who keeps going by doing some very simple things.

Realise that you need to change with time.

By now, a lot of changes have happened in your body. Calcium levels might have decreased, immunity would have taken a backseat, and fairness creams might have lost their magic.

While there are a few things you can’t control, a lot of things are actually under your control. The first step is to reassess your diet. Less junk. More leaves. It’s time to unfriend oil, sugar, and all things sweet. Don’t stay completely off them but plan your cheat days carefully.

Do have an apple a day, but keeping the doctor away isn’t really a good advice. Take health checks more often. Keep track of usual metrics like blood pressure, sugar levels, etc.

You may or may not have exercised through your twenties and thirties. You might have been genetically blessed with a high metabolism rate. But now, especially when you’re ageing, your body needs exercise. As you come close to the retirement age and sway away from those working hours, your body will tend to acquire rust. You need exercise to remind the body of its fitness levels. Run, walk, stretch. Do anything, but move.

Accept. Adapt.  

You won’t be the head turner you were. You would lose the glow. You will see greying temples, shining heads, and fattening bellies. Although you can control it to an extent, there are some things beyond that. The best way is to accept that change gracefully and blossom.

If you feel you’ve gray hair, accept. Don’t expect chemicals to churn out magic recipes to regenerate the melanin. Google and you’ll find the best salt and pepper hairstyles. You’ll find the perfect length to have in case of a balding head. So on and so forth. A man or a woman can find the best way to present themselves, regardless of the age group they belong to.

Evolution never stops

Most of the families have a certain pattern. Before the parents retire, the kids graduate and take the responsibilities of their bills. A lot of them even leave the home to pursue their ambitions, and that is bound to make you feel solitary. Not that you weren’t prepared for this, but reality strikes hard. Depending upon your attachment with them, you would try to persuade or emotionally coerce them to stay with you. But the fact is that you need to let them go out and express themselves while discovering a ‘You 2.0’. Start playing a sport you always wanted. Impart your learnings. Teach. Give back to society and the environment.

Ageing is inevitable and irreversible- none of the creams, cosmetic procedures or a magic wand can stop it. The key to happiness lies in Accepting, Discovering and Reinventing yourself. There are things more than you could imagine, to keep yourself young in your sixties.