Growing old vs. aging: The 5 Cs to successful aging

Most of us are aware that people are living longer today. There is, in fact an intense hunger for knowledge on how to successfully age. One of the cornerstones of this philosophy is realizing that you can separate aging (a largely physical process) from growing old (a largely attitudinal process).

Aging reflects the relationship of time on our being. Aging describes, in large part, the state of our body. Old, on the other hand, describes our state of mind.

Look around you and you will see the role spirit and attitude play in relationship to the concept of being old. Do you know any 75 year-olds that act like they’re 35? Do you know any 40 year-olds that act like they’re 80? If you answered “yes” to either question you are affirming the attitudinal and spiritual source of what separates those who are aging from those who are old. This distinction was described by Paul the apostle in his letter toCorinth where he stated, "though our outward man perishes, our inward man is renewed day by day."

There is no denying the effects of time on our bodies. Though we can slow certain physical impacts we cannot prevent them altogether. Hair turns gray or falls out. Skin wrinkles. Senses can begin to dull as can short term memory. As George Burns once quipped, "you know you're getting older when everything hurts, and what doesn't hurt doesn't work."

Choosing to live an engaged life until the day we die is no accident; it is the purposeful and intentional discipline of those souls who choose to live every day they are living. They are not in denial of the inevitability of death; they simply have chosen to not give it a head start.

Attitude is the rudder that steers our ship in this journey called life. Release the rudder for a single day and you can sense a sort of existential seasickness. Release it for a week and you will drift aimlessly or be tossed upon the rocks. Release it for any longer period and shipwreck is inevitable.

In observing the forever young, forever passionate and forever engaged, I have come across five internal focuses and patterns that constitute what I refer to as the vitamin C's of successful aging because all the words that describe them happen to start with that letter and like vitamin C, provide essential energy to our lives:

• Vitamin C1: Connectivity — Many people disconnect themselves from important social networks when they retire and don’t realize it until it’s too late. Be sure you stay connected to people and places you love and enjoy.
• Vitamin C2: Challenge — Just because you are retired, doesn’t mean you should stop using your brain. Being intellectually challenged literally has the effect of a finger in the dike holding back the degenerative processes leading to both Alzheimer’s and dementia.
• Vitamin C3: Curiosity — Don’t ever stop exploring or asking questions. Curiosity is critical to surviving and thriving, especially if you are retired. Think you’re too old to go back to school or learn a new skill? Think again—being inquisitive can be the difference between getting old and aging.
• Vitamin C4: Creativity — A creative soul looks at the shoreline and sees something new everyday. This might help explain whyB.B. King still tours, and why Peter Druckerwas able to write a business best-seller in his 90s. You may not be a world-class musician or best-selling author, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t explore your own creativity.
• Vitamin C5: Charity — A woman in her 70s had more money than she could ever hope to spend but no charitable interests. Her financial adviser challenged her to look around her city for places she might like to make a difference. As a result, she had more adrenaline than ever. It doesn’t require money to live charitably — just concern, generosity and discovering the joy of self-transcendence