Imagine spending your professional life as an attorney. You have gained considerable wisdom and insight in over 40 years of practice. Now imagine you have just “retire” from you former firm are attending an annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce when you are approached and asked, “Didn’t you used to be an attorney?” This scene is no doubt repeated daily throughout America. People work hard to reach retirement; and gained considerable wisdom and expertise that could benefit other businesses and organizations; only to be stripped of significance banished to the ranks of the “used-to-be.”

Over the past five decades, “aging” has developed a generally negative image thanks to media stereotyping. Negative portrayals in movies, advertisements and comedy routines have left Americans with a view that later life is primarily a time of loss and decline. While gaining some positive ground in the last few years, the portrayal of forgetful, doddering, confused “seniors” is still all too common.

Even the act of “retiring” can be a profound threat to one’s significance, which will likely influence their future direction and life satisfaction. When one’s former position and recognition are lost, there is no longer the opportunity for challenge and satisfaction. For many, physical concerns regarding appearance, peak performance and memory begin to color their attitudes toward themselves and their personal value. They mindlessly accept the stereotypes and perceptions of aging, as a time of decline; and begin a downhill slide. Their beliefs about aging and “retirement” all too often become self-fulfilling prophecies.

On the other hand, life’s third stage can be a positive and joyful experience…an adventure in personal growth and fulfillment for those who mindfully commit to age successfully and develop a positive Life Plan. The pursuit of successful aging requires one to develop a broader set of satisfying activities, relationships, and responsibilities that extend well beyond the workplace. After all, retirement is not a life stage, but simply an act that takes a couple of minutes.

Unfortunately, most of us do not reconsider what we mindlessly accepted as fact earlier in life as we poked fun at “old fogies” or referred to memory lapses as an “aging moments”. Many people still view retirement as either a time to play and be entertained or a time to begin the “downhill slide”. Even our institutions and support agencies have often unwittingly but flagrantly encouraged dependency…the more help people are given; the more they will come to need.
Harvard researcher Ellen Langer documented that “well meant protectiveness gradually undermines autonomy. When there is one ready explanation for something – being old – we rarely search for other possible causes…old age and poor health continue to be confused.”1

Now the Good News! There is a growing movement to redefine “aging” for what it is – the progress of growth from a simple child to a complex adult; and to redefine “retirement” as a time of growth, involvement, connectedness and contribution. Visionaries are planning communities where limiting mindsets about aging are countered with positive aging – places where people will have a greater chance of replacing years of decline with years of growth and purpose.

Following years of mindless acceptance of retirement communities as places where “old people go in their declining years”, many people view the prospect of moving to a retirement community as threatening to their personal significance and representing a shrinking world – a smaller home with fewer personal possessions and fewer meaningful opportunities. The image of restricted dining hours, housekeeping schedules, reduced privacy, rules and regulations threatens one’s autonomy. To move to a “retirement community” is to accept being classified as old or dependent. The amenities and variety of programs are little compensation for perceived losses.

By removing terms like retirement, life care, continuing care from descriptive designations is one approach. However, developing a positive aging culture is the key to adding value to adult community life. Insuring personal significance will be an integral component of community life will change perceived threats into opportunities for growth. This culture is achieved by investing time and talent in productive service that benefit other people, such as volunteer work within the community, the surrounding larger community, national programs such as RSVP or SCORE.

A positive aging culture empowers people to exercise leadership skills through boards and advisory councils and committees, involvement in local political leadership, continuing membership on organizational and corporate boards, or through paid or unpaid consultancy in their areas of expertise. This culture encourages people to continue to be productive and influential through writing books and articles, speaking, and lecturing to both audiences of their peers, as well outside groups.

By mindfully pursuing positive aging, later life may come to be perceived as the crown jewel of the human experience. Celebrating positive aging will give rise to empowered, community cultures that celebrate the uniqueness and worth of each individual and encourage members to discover the joy that comes from giving—from using their time and talents to improve the lives of others and make a difference in the world around them.

For more information on Positive Aging services call
520.229.3503 or e-mail ambro@positiveaging.com.

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