By Teri Petrocco
Posted: August 7, 2026
Navigating the aging process takes a concerted effort. For me, today, it means finding an alternative to my daily walk. The summer heat is no longer tolerable at seventy-five. My asthma also complicates the situation. Yet, I do not view either as an obstacle. I view them as challenges. So, today’s walk will be in the pool, once I get my breathing under control. I will pool-jog early, circumventing the heat. Then, I will jump on my treadmill, the speed dictated by my breathing status, while listening to podcasts. Also, I have discovered a wealth of opportunities on the YouTube channel, from line dancing to walking routines, from Tai Chi to resistance band training, from weight training to nature videos to calm my soul. I turn to Meetup and Stitch.net to supply me with a myriad of socializing opportunities. I revel in a glass or two of wine in the early evening with friends. Yes, I know wine has no health value, but at seventy-five, I have decided to concentrate on quality over quantity.
I read an article on Sixty and Me awhile back, and the author shared four tenets to embrace as we age. They now inform me about my day to day living:
- Adapt expectations. So my pickleball racket has been replaced with drum sticks. Falling twice in pickleball (which my physician refers to as “cripple ball”) dissuaded me from continuing with a sport I love. I have embraced Cardio Drumming, less chance of falling, yet still highly enjoyable.
- Live in the present moment. I dwell much less on past regrets and embrace the joys embedded in the here and now. Mindfulness has become an intentional practice.
- Indulge. I sip the wine, savor the chocolate and revel in the freedom retirement has afforded me. Never in my life has the pursuit of pleasure, of knowledge for knowledge sake, of me time been more attainable.
- Compartmentalize. I put the political mess in a box and only peek in when I have the emotional reserve. I put my daughter’s chosen estrangement on the shelf. I access it when I send her my weekly innocuous postcard.
Aging can be problematic; but life can be problematic. Each stage of life presents difficulties. The one caveat about the senior stage is, it, unlike the others, comes with a large reservoir of wisdom…and an understanding that attitude trumps circumstances. So, think outside the box. What you find may surprise you!
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