Baby boomers and the aging process…
It may come as a shock to some, but the Rolling Stones are in their 70’s.
Baby boomers are aging.
And yes, boomers are retiring, too.
To get an idea of the impact that this has on our collective lives, consider this:
Baby boomers are the cohort born, worldwide, between 1946 and 1964. The birthrate ‘boomed’ in those post-war years and a massive generation came into being. In the US alone, there are about 76 million baby boomers. They represent approximately 29 percent of the population.
The year 2011 marked the arrival of the first baby boomers at the standard retirement age of 65. And in the years since 2011, scores more have crossed that line.
So, are you in that company?
Is retirement beginning to move to the forefront of your mind? And are you starting to wonder what aging gracefully actually means?
We each respond in our own, unique ways to the developmental changes that we encounter. But with such a large cohort hitting particular milestones at the same time, you can see why everyone is starting to pay more attention to the aging process.
Yes, it’s a process…
I find it helpful to keep this in mind always: aging is a process. It is taking place all the time. It’s not something that starts after we cross a certain line. So, it doesn’t have to be a shock. We are always engaged in this process, whether we are conscious of it or not.
The effects of aging are, in many ways, predictable. But, my experience of my aging is likely to be quite different from yours. That’s because how we each experience our aging depends on the feelings, perceptions, and expectations that we bring to the process. Our histories, our values, our life experiences — and also our choices — these all have a profound impact on the process.
So, here are some questions to ponder:
- How do you feel about the changes that you notice in your mind and body as the years pass?
- Do you notice a shift in your perception of time? And how do you feel about that?
- If your aging has changed your goals and aspirations, can you give some examples?
- Do you have a bucket list? If so, what are the top three items on it?
- Is your life now the way you pictured it being at this age? Are there changes you want to make?
Aging gracefully means, for starters, accepting reality. Working with the questions above gives you some excellent places to start.
Once you’ve got your feet on the ground and you’re comfortable with where you are, you can begin to look at the wider terrain. Your range of choices will be based in reality. And undertakings like planning for retirement and post-retirement living go much more smoothly.
And here’s more for you…
Indeed, retirement marks a profound shift in how you spend your time. It can be very unsettling, and it also offers rich opportunities. Grounded in your own truth, you’ll make more satisfying plans and choices as you move into this transition because they’ll be congruent with your values.
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