What Is Age Esteem? – Interview
Anne-Louise Sterry, 60, Oregon, USA
The first thing that pops into my head when I hear “Age Esteem” is, oh my gosh, instead of thinking that old people are useless we’re going to look at people who are older with a sense of esteem.
What concerns do I have about growing older? Actually concerns about aging just popped up for me when I turned 60. One is a sense of anxiety that I don’t really have so much of my life left, and if I haven’t done what I wanted to do when I am I going to do it? I better get to work!
A second concern is that I’ll never be able to retire. I ought to be able to, except for the fact that I love what I do so I wouldn’t want to stop. – But then when is the time that you can relax? My father used to say, “You can relax when you’re dead.” So that is a concern. And of course there is the sagging of the body bits. I’m not so happy about that.
Anne-Louise’s Tips: I wake up in the morning and I try, especially if I am at home, to spend some time writing. One of the things that I write at the top of my page is the type of day I want to create. I often write that I am creating a day of joy and focus, or I’m creating a day of joy and love, or I’m creating a day of patience. That actually carries me through my day.
Laughter is a really good thing. Laughter makes you feel good.
Exercise. You’ve got to get outside and walk. You have to do something to get in the fresh air, something to move your body. My husband and I ride bikes. I try to walk, especially since I turned 60. I’m a new 60 and I’m struggling with that a bit. It just seems old though I don’t feel old. It is just the number. I would like to change the number to have more years left. I work on staying present and not future tripping or past tripping. Both are useless.
When my parents were 60 they were old. They weren’t out; they weren’t walking; they weren’t running; they weren’t doing things with their bodies. So I guess I still see that as what 60 is supposed to be like.
When my Grandma was 60, she was a little old lady. I think it is just an idea; it is just a concept that we need to change. We need to change the concept of what 60 means. Then I have a husband who is 65. How did he ever become 65?
I’m a young old person so I don’t have very many tips yet.
Anne-Louise Sterry, aka aunt Lena, speaker, author, performing artist www.Anne-Louise.com
P.S. This interview wouldn’t be complete without a photo of Anne-Louise as aunt Lena, who is full of age esteem!
