Meet The New Crop Of Role Models For Senior Citizens
Yes, I'm getting up there. My kids are grown, and I can now get a senior bus pass. I'm at a crossroads, of sorts. I could go down the road that some of my friends have traveled (retirement, boredom), or I could follow in the footsteps of our current crew of political favorites: Bernie, age 74; Hillary, age 68; Biden, age 73.
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.
Yes, I'm getting up there. My kids are grown, and I can now get a senior bus pass (and yoga class discount!). I'm at a crossroads, of sorts. I could turn down the road that several of my baby-boomer friends have traveled (retirement, TV watching, boredom), or I could follow in the footsteps of our current crew of political favorites: Bernie, age 74; Hillary, age 68; Biden, age 73, and yes, Trump, age 70. Then there is Jill Stein of the Green Party, 66, Libertarian Gary Johnson, 63, and Darrell Castle, 68, of the Constitution Party (to name a few). Quite the role models!
How do these "senior" men and women push themselves so hard every day? Making speeches, traveling the country, opening themselves up to scrutiny, criticism, praise, and attack? How, at their "advanced" age, do they not only tolerate it, but seem to revel in it? They're not in rocking chairs -- they're rockin' it!
The reason I write about this now is because around the age of 60, some of my friends started acting like, well, oldsters. Now, I don't want to be mean or judgmental, but there will be plenty of time to be old, and there will be plenty of time to be weak, incapacitated and depressed about aging (if we choose to, and perhaps even if we don't choose, depending upon what life delivers).
Advertisement
I prefer to think of a Hillary who might be President for eight years, or a Biden who could conceivably run in the future, or a woman I know who just opened a yoga studio in her 60s, or my 74-year-old sister who recently started a business in Healing Touch and babysits (and chases after) her toddler grandchild, or my 76-year-old brother who skis and kayaks.
I'd rather emulate the 65-year-old woman I know who is dating a much younger man than the friend who gave up dating when she was 50, or the "old married couple" I know who spends every weekend hiking. I prefer to emulate B.K.S. Iyengar (who died in 2014 at the age of 95, still practicing yoga), or Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, the 70-something-year-old Kundalini yoga doyenne who can hold a challenging "Boat Pose" longer than some 30-year-olds in her classes (I've seen this happen!). I prefer to model myself after my husband, who at 64 does 350 push-ups after his run every single morning.
Folks are always talking about role models for our youths. But role models for the aging and aged may be even more important, because these are the people who show us that life can be lived fully at any age. It's not all about physical stuff, either. Serving our country as President or Secretary of State, volunteering in a food pantry (as my mother did until her death at the age of 81), playing the violin until the age of 92, as another friend has. We're here until we check out, so why not go for the full Monty?
I have very little patience for young people who look down upon older people or for older people who look down upon themselves. My role models may be "old" but they aren't done living. Legitimate medical excuses aside, it's a slippery slope when you start saying you "can't" do something because of your age. Like, er, be President? How come some think 60 is too old to dance the Tango or stay up until midnight, when some others who are well past 60 think they can manage the whole U.S.A. and snag the most important, time-consuming, challenging, and stressful job in the world?
Advertisement
For me, the Presidency would indeed be a stretch, and I admit it's too late to become a ballerina or Olympic gymnast. But after decades of writing for magazines and newspapers, my memoir was published when I turned 60. Folks, I've only just begun to write.
And I'm sure not done voting. I have the utmost respect for our younger statesmen (47-year-old Cory Booker, for one), but this election I will be thrilled to cast my vote for a ... drum roll ... senior citizen!
Earlier on Huff/Post50:
5 Inspiring Female Entrepreneurs Over 50
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.