Growing older doesn’t intimidate me, although it’s happening sooner than I planned. The accumulation of years occurs with or without my consent so I don’t have to feel responsible for it. Even excessive amounts of chocolate or desserts, which I do have remorse about, have no effect on how quickly I grow older.

I realize my lifestyle can and does affect how I age, but it doesn’t change the number of candles on birthday cakes. People’s hesitation about admitting how old they are never makes much sense to me. Although one woman explained she didn’t like to tell her age because others then make assumptions about her based only on a number. I understand that. Numbers aren’t important; how one’s life is lived is what counts. Working with social programming for seniors gave me many opportunities to learn about aging. I saw proof that some folks are old at 50 and others are youthful at 90.

Attitude, health, relationships, and interests have significant effects on how gracefully people age. Circumstances can diminish the potential to remain “forever young.” But just as Abraham Lincoln is often quoted as saying “Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be,” it’s also true that people are as young thinking as they decide to be.

Looking or behaving youthfully isn’t the goal itself. It’s a means of achieving a finer goal, which is to savor every bit of goodness life has to offer. Not for selfish reasons, but to share resources with others and to savor and appreciate the many unique opportunities life presents.

When my husband’s Uncle Rudy was in his early ‘60s, we visited a large amusement park, and Rudy and my three teenagers were first in line for rides. I was amazed because I was some 17 years younger than Rudy with little interest in roller coasters. But I mentally made note of his attitude and enthusiasm as attributes worth modeling in my life.

Today my early ‘60s are fond memories, with still no desire for rides that jostle my insides, but I’m enjoying other adventures. Life is full of choices, including the decision of how to live based on values, priorities and goals. The accumulation of years should reflect a life well lived, not simply indicate how long someone remains on this earth.

One anonymous author wrote “Today is the oldest you’ve ever been, yet the youngest you’ll ever be so enjoy the day.” Count experiences, not birthdays. The late humorist and author Erma Bombeck, after learning she had a terminal disease, wrote in a column titled “If I Had My Life To Live Over,” various changes she would make in her attitude and lifestyle, including, “But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it and really see it, live it and never give it back.”

Life doesn’t allow for do-overs, but it often provides second chances and opportunities for restitution. Certain possibilities have expiration dates, but a well-lived life includes options, adaptability and learning to gracefully replace a dream with a beautiful reality. Growing older is a privilege and doing so with grace and gusto reflects an attitude of gratitude not regret or remorse.

To life, with its inevitable changes and reminders that each day counts!