The Three C's of Aging
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Aging is inevitable. There’s no escaping it.
But there are many ways to embrace it.
I celebrate birthdays: mine and those of my family and friends. Birthdays are:
A time to reflect on the past year.
To celebrate what you’ve learned and how you’ve changed.
To acknowledge what you’ve accomplished and the many ways you’re unique.
A time to look forward to what comes next.
But more than that, consider ways to follow the three Cs and embrace your age with each passing year.
1. Curiosity
As someone who loves to learn, being curious leads me down multiple paths of learning.
Studying new topics of interest and educating myself feeds my curiosity. I’ve always wanted to be bilingual. I studied multiple languages in high school, but it's hard to become fluent when you don’t use a language. While homeschooling my son , we signed up to take an Italian class together. Much of it was a review, but it allowed me to refresh what I learned years ago and begin to use it.
We practiced and learned together. Although my son graduated from high school and is in college, I’m still studying Italian, hoping to be more comfortable speaking when I travel to Italy again.
2. Accept change
Today, when I look in the mirror, I see more than an older version of myself. Of course, I see the lines that weren’t there ten years ago, but I know the wisdom that came with those years.
We all face changes on a regular basis. I’ve had my share and have had to accept many circumstances for which I wasn’t prepared. In my 20s and 30s, I fought change. In my 40s, I understood that fighting the inevitable was useless and would not help me move forward.
To change, you first need to accept it.
Now, in my 50s, I embrace change. Looking in the mirror, I see the person I’m becoming.
What do you see when you look in the mirror? Are you resisting change, embracing it, or doing both?
Until science learns how to stop time, aging is inevitable, but how you view the process is up to you.
Of course, my view will differ from yours because our experiences shape our lives and, in large part, make us who we are. Because my life was interrupted at 26 due to illness, I learned the importance of resilience, gratitude, and a positive attitude.
My perspective changed dramatically because of my circumstances.
I learned that despite the challenges you face, you always can be who you’re meant to be. You have choices.
A choice to smile, grow, and change despite loss and hardship.
A choice to learn, explore, and reflect.
The choice and the power to become your true, authentic self.
3. Continue to grow and pursue your passions
Once I accepted change, I opened the door to possibilities I hadn’t yet seen. I’m still a work in progress, but I celebrate the process of aging as a continuation of my journey.
I’ve learned that life is more than the path you take. It’s exploring and finding your passions along the way.
What excites you each day?
What helps you move through the mundane?
In addition to following the three C’s, there are other ways to embrace aging.
Focus on what you can do, not what you can’t.
When my physical health limited me, I focused on what I could do. I couldn’t travel, but I could read about the destinations I longed to see and view beautiful pictures of the sites I wanted to visit. It wasn’t the same, but it was better than feeling bad because I couldn’t be there in person.
Live in the present. Plan, but accept plans change.
I don’t look back. I learned to find joy every day, even when my illness forced me to stay home. I learned to surrender to the moment I was in. I accepted I was where I was supposed to be that day.
Enjoy simple pleasures.
I used to be a runner. When I couldn’t run anymore because of my health, I celebrated walking. When walking long distances was difficult, I celebrated the steps I could take. I changed my perspective and adjusted my expectations. Would I ever run that marathon? Probably not, but it’s okay.
Overcome limiting beliefs.
At one time, I managed a team of talented marketing professionals and multi-million-dollar budgets. After I became ill, I felt useless. I was a shadow of my former self. As time passed, I realized that my physical limitations did not define me or change who I was. They made me a stronger, more capable person. I learned to accept my limitations but overcome my limiting beliefs. There’s a big difference.
Practice gratitude.
I’ve always been grateful for my family and the many opportunities I’ve had. When the unexpected happened, I questioned why it was happening, but I quickly realized that focusing on the negative would only make me feel worse.
Through counseling, meditation, and mindfulness practice, I learned to accept my new normal. I also learned the importance of being grateful for the smallest things in life: a sunrise, hearing my son’s laughter, and time with my loved ones. Practicing gratitude will change your life if you’re open to it.
I’ve learned so much about health, wellness, and self-improvement over the past twenty years.
What works and what doesn’t?
Why it’s hard to stay focused.
What you can do when you get off track.
My ability to gather and synthesize information and communicate it in an easy-to-understand way has helped me personally and professionally. I’ll be sharing more in the coming year.
If you’re interested in learning more about embracing aging, say yes in the comments below, and I’ll keep you posted on plans for the first webinar in 2025! It will be open to all but limited in size.
Until then, don’t let aging stop you from being curious, exploring new interests, and pursuing your passions.
Think of age as a privilege.
Celebrate each year for the wisdom gained, the experiences enjoyed, and the opportunity to become the person you’re meant to be.
Consider the next day, week, or month special because it’s the only time you’ll live it.
Embrace it.
One day, you will look back and see that all along, you were blooming
— Morgan Harper Nichols, artist, and writer
Until next week, be mindful and stay safe.
Tracy xo
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Questioning the direction your life is headed.
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I love acronyms--they help me remember key ideas. I'm naturally curious and love learning so continuing to grow and develop follows along, and I'm getting better at accepting change more quickly. My dad always said that growing old isn't for sissies and I think he's right, so I would add a fourth C to your acronym--Courage. My parents and your parents demonstrated a lot of courage and they passed that on to us. So, here's to the courage to live our lives to the fullest ! Thanks for sharing!
Aging is inevitable...but being old isn't!
I seek out Curiosity, it's the best C for feeling you can still do so many things in life. And, I think I seek out Change more than I realize. It also gives me the feeling that I'm always moving forward.