Sixty-five and Going Strong

I am sixty-five. I keep up and enjoy a full-time law practice without secretary, paralegal or anyone else. I am not intimidated by younger attorneys and suspect the opposite may be true. I post on my blog nearly every day. I have just agreed to write two articles a month for a Christian magazine. I do my yard work and am a not-very-good DIY guy. I don’t expect to slow up on any of this any time soon.

I love it when I come across material which contradicts some of the myths about age. This article is a great example: Why Everything You Think About Aging May Be Wrong. 

Here are some of the myths followed by the truth:

Myth No. 1: Depression Is More Prevalent in Old Age

“Contrary to the popular view that youth is the best time of life, the peak of emotional life may not occur until well into the seventh decade.”

Myth No. 2: Cognitive Decline Is Inevitable

Not so. Keeping the mind active prevents decline and scientists also believe older adults can make wiser decisions.  That sounds almost biblical. I challenge anyone to a Sudoku race in ink, no pencils allowed.

Myth No. 3: Older Workers Are Less Productive

Workers 55 or older make up 22% of the U.S. labor force, up from 12% in 1992. The vast majority of academic studies shows “virtually no relationship between age and job performance,” says Harvey Sterns, director of the Institute for Life-Span Development and Gerontology at the University of Akron. In jobs that require experience, some studies show that older adults have a performance edge.

Myth No. 4: Loneliness Is More Likely

As people age, their social circles contract. But that doesn’t mean older adults are lonely. In fact, several academic studies show that friendships tend to improve with age.

“Older adults typically report better marriages, more supportive friendships, less conflict with children and siblings and closer ties with members of their social networks than younger adults,” says Prof. Fingerman, co-author of a 2004 study that found older adults have “a higher rate of close ties than younger people” and fewer “problematic relationships that cause them distress.”

Myth No. 5: Creativity Declines With Age

People who are creative in older age aren’t anomalies. Mark Twain, Paul Cézanne, Frank Lloyd Wright, Robert Frost and Virginia Woolf are just a few of the artists “who did their greatest work in their 40s, 50s and 60s. These artists rely on wisdom, which increases with age.” (not to mention Moses, for example.)

Myth No. 6: More Exercise Is Better

Here’s my favorite. When it comes to improving health and longevity, exercise is key. But a growing number of studies show that more exercise may not always be better.

Myth No. 7: Old folks are boring

Anyone who spends time with older people knows this is wrong. I have done nursing home ministry and prison ministry with aged inmates and ran a church in a nursing home. Boring? I don’t think so.

Myth No. 8: Fun stops when you get old.

I don’t think this is true. I’ll let you know when I get old.

Myth No. 9: BONUS Old guys can be smarty pants.

Not a myth.

So all you young bucks thinking, “He can’t keep this up.” In your face.

I will share my secret. My favorite time is spent with  young people, my daughter, grands and great grands. I think that keeps me young and a bit of a smarty-pants.

Be blessed.