AGING WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE

That we age is inevitable. How we age is up to us, says Dr. Andrea Brandt. Take her tips for mindful aging:

Rethink what aging looks like. If your dream is to travel, go travel. If you love your job and don’t want to retire, don’t. If you’re missing working, find a way to keep doing the parts of your job you loved by volunteering, teaching or mentoring.

Socialize as much as you can. Aging can quickly turn into a lonely experience once we don’t have a job to go to and our children have lives of their own. Seek out new friends. Join a fitness class designed for older adults.

Don’t neglect physical fitness. You need your body to accomplish your goals. Exercise, especially weight training, is essential to mindful aging. Fitness, when you’re older, is about feeling strong and healthy, improving bone density, and giving you the energy you need to follow your passion.

Rekindle the spark in a romantic relationship or find a new partner. You’re never too old to fall in love or back in love. Sex and romance don’t have to end when you hit menopause or andropause.

Accept that someday you will die. Living in fear keeps us from making plans for our future and what happens to our family after we’re gone. There are groups you can join to talk about mortality. Talking about the thing you fear takes away its power over you.