Blaine Senior Center

We are often asked how old we are. It seems like a straightforward question. The problem is the answer. Now for me personally, my chronological age is 60. This, however, does not tell who I am, how I am, or give any kind of educated answer to the question. However, context is everything. Yes, I am now eligible for AARP membership, I have 2 years till I am eligible for Social Security, and if I keep my eyes out, I may find a discount here and there. Age in the chronological scheme is inevitable. Every day I am older and like everyone else, I will not live forever. However, it does not tell you anything about me.

Now as a society, we also use chronological age as a marker for many things. In the health system, age can give us markers for susceptibility to various illnesses and physiological changes. In our government, age identifies specific aid such as access to Social Security or Medicare. In everyday life, our age identifies discounts in pricing and accessibility to programs, but it does not give a clear synopsis of who we are. However, many of these systems based around our chronological age are “benefits”. An acknowledgement that, good or bad, we have made it this far.

In everyday life, we have developed a bad habit. We ask or inquire about age often in ourpersonal lives. Maybe we believe this will give us a synopsis to who a personis or what they are like. We have taken on bias regarding chronological age and let it define us. This is called “ageism”. This approach becomes a closed ended question. The stigma of aging sets the precedence that because of our age we fit into a category.  Unfortunately, our society has made this a norm and to many it is acceptable. We see movies or shows that depict elder generations in a stereotypical fashion. We have younger generations, because of these stereotypes, that see getting older as a loss of vitality, progressiveness, and innovation. Amongst the aging, many have accepted the chronological bias and believe getting older in years connects us with limitations to living. To this I give a loud “Humbug”.

Here is my assessment.As a senior center Director, I could define our Blaine Center as a place where people go to slip into the abyss of ageism. Where we embrace the stereotypesand support that we need a community location where we go when we can no longer compete in today’s world. I could support the notion that older adults need tobe coddled. This I will not do. Today, I fight for the vitality of our wondrous older generations and declare that my staff and I will always support a “Center for Active Living” and believe that age does not define us.

So let us change our thinking. I tell people everyday that it is “Stage, not age”. As a50+ individual in our community, do not let your chronological age define you. Look at the amazing stages in life that allow us to continue to grow emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, and physically.  Getting older is a blessing. Empower yourself with focusing on the stages you are in and know that with a proactive approach to living at any age, you can become more aware emotionally, smarter intellectually, deeper spiritually, and stronger physically. You can define thestage you want to be in. If we are aware that we can continue to get better,that we can lead by example, and that life can evolve at any age, we eliminate the societal definition that getting older is a bad thing. We open the possibility that as we get older, we can get better. That is an open-ended answer to the closed ended question of age. This is how society begins to make the transition from labeling us as old and embraces us as individuals who can be empowered, to lead, and to continue the path to an enriched life. As I see every day, age does not define us…it is simply an obstacle we adjust to as we continue our quest to live fully and joyfully. We are a powerful and amazing older generation full of leaders, teachers, adventurers, mentors, supporters, and participants in the game of life.

Blaine’s 50+Center for Active Living, powered by the Blaine Senior Center, has structured itself to embrace the adventure of getting older. Our “Super Adults” are stimulated by best life practices (at any age) and to continue to bring in a wide variety of tools needed to evolve as we get older. The goal is to make life better.  Strength training and fitness to feel better and be stronger. Classes and programs to learn and stimulate ourselves intellectually. Music, art, and meditation to help usconnect with our spirits and learn to dance with life. Games to help us playand laugh. Most importantly, Community. Giving back as a member helps toembrace gratitude, nurture compassion, and allows abundance to take on newmeaning. Being “Kind” (our #1 rule) opens the doors to amazing relationships and focuses on the commonalities we all have. Community allows the power of one to take on a new shape with the “power of many”.

Do not let age define you. Define your age by continuing to get better at every stage of life.

Pete Nelson, Executive Director