What word should we use? Middle age, senior, super senior, old, older, young, youth? Often I hear people say, “Oh I am getting old” if they have an ache or pain. Everyone is horrified when the AARP invite comes, how did that happen? Medicare “wellness screening” starts at 65 and in the medical record they have to ask all sorts of probing questions such as, “Are you forgetful, do you fall, how is your memory” etc.etc. The checklist is all so insulting.

The very first doctor’s visit after 65 definitely causes us to take pause- oh I guess I am now a senior citizen! Ha! I don’t buy it. “It all goes down hill after 70 doc”. Well Abe shouldn’t tell that to the 112 year old youngster from Japan. He made the news this week as the oldest known man. Photos of Mr. Watanabe and his wife are adorable. The oldest living woman is also from Japan at 117! So Abe at 70 is only 2/3rds there and when he beats this cancer needs to make plans for a future. That is if he follows Mr. Watanabe’s recommendation and smiles everyday!

How to approach this creep to geriatrics? Perhaps we should choose to ignore it. There are many freedoms that come with ahem..aging. You can exercise today when you didn’t have time for it while raising kids. You bring wisdom into your life not available in middle age. You can learn to enjoy the simple, leaving behind the frenzy of overdoing everything. You become more aware that positive words should be spoken in every situation and avoid piling on the crazy (which will dissipate quickly if left alone). You can choose when to engage and have less ego about it.

Consider a new mind set- not “I am getting old” but “I choose to live full blast as long as possible.” Blow through the midlife and charge into aging not letting aches and pains define you. If you have a major illness, don’t allow it to steal your time. The next day, years, career, golf game, book in the queue isn’t promised.

So live that life at full speed. Don’t give into that misleading review of symptoms docs inflict on their questionnaire. Prepare but don’t abdicate. When the finish line is in sight that is soon enough to finally say, “Okay I am ready to break thru the ribbon. I didn’t slow down because of some concept of aging.” God didn’t put us here to rest- there is ample time for that. There are many in our families, our friends, and young veterans whose lives are cut short. They would be disappointed if we didn’t appreciate or we gave into a lesser life.

I strongly disagree with Dr. Zeke Emmanuel from Penn who helped craft Obama care and wants to stop all healthcare after 75. He says he wants to only live ’til then because you are “slower, less of a contributor” etc. What nonsense. We dishonor all those who didn’t get the chance to age or age well. Be strong everyday. Be fierce. Do not go gently. If you are lucky to hear the two minute whistle, then decide how those last hours are spent, but do not do less, be less, or give in, because a number defines you. You are are not old. You are lucky. And just maybe, you can also reach that 112 number with a smile on your face.