Keep Aging Weird
A Tale of Two Cities…and You.
“Keep Austin Weird.” “Keep Portland Weird.” Two cities, with the same slogan, locked in a good-natured battle over who’s the weirdest. The most eccentric. The most atypical. A siren call to free spirits who want to mingle with likeminded folk. This got me thinking: if cities can adopt this type of attitude, why can’t we 50-plussers do the same when it comes to getting older? Here’s my sales pitch…
Break Free from the Stereotypes
Aging is the slow erosion of our youth, when society spoon feeds us a whole menu of “act your age” stereotypes. There’s nothing more tragic than trading in your youthful quirks for a pair of orthopedic shoes — unless you have bunions the size of golf balls.
Aging shouldn’t be about slowing down, it should be about ramping up what makes you you. Never let the flame of individuality go out no matter how many candles are on your birthday cake. The world is full of sound and color and flavor and unpredictability and it’s those who put a kung fu grip on their eccentricities who savor it the most. In other words, find your freak flag and fly it.
“Frankly, my dear…”
One of the most liberating things about getting older is that you’ve earned the right to not give a damn about what anyone thinks. You’ve paid your dues, raised your kids, worked your job, and now it’s your turn to reclaim your individuality.
Remember when you were a kid and didn’t care what anyone thought? Time to circle back. Wear mismatched socks if it makes you happy. Get a tattoo. Eat dessert first. Take up writing, and don’t worry if your style is more Hunter S. Thompson after a weeklong bender than Maya Angelou. (Come to think of it, Hunter S. Thompson on a weeklong bender sounds pretty damn interesting — and probably been done.) Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Your weirdness is truth, and there’s nothing more authentic than living it.
Curiouser and Curiouser
Curiosity is the one trait that keeps the soul young. Even though you might physically shrink as you age (thanks, gravity), your world shouldn’t. Expand it. Travel if you can, even if it’s just to the next town over. Learn sign language. Become a luthier. Uncork your oenophilia. Or try not to burn down the kitchen by cooking a new cuisine.
If you’re 90 years old and want to skateboard because it makes you feel alive, do it. You don’t have to be Tony Hawk. It’s not about mastering a new skill, it’s about the thrill of discovery, the joy of stepping outside your comfort zone. Alice Munro, the Nobel Prize-winning writer, once said, “The constant happiness is curiosity.” Words to live by.
“But Dave, my knees are killin’ me.”
I get it. Your joints creak like an old ship. Your lumbago is keeping you from doing the limbo. Some days the weight of the years comes down hard. But you know what? Your spirit can still soar. (I know, a bit cloying, but it gets the point across.)
Embody the role of tribal elder. Be the storyteller. Share your hard-won wisdom, your wildest tales, your strangest adventures, with someone younger. They need to know that life doesn’t end when you reach the half-century mark. Be the living proof that being unconventional isn’t just for those born after the internet.
Find Your Own Austin
In other words, find your tribe, your community, the people who celebrate your quirks and share your eccentricities. Surround yourself with those who appreciate your unique flavor even if it’s just vanilla.
We’re social creatures, and without friends, without the bonds we form with others, life’s journey would be like taking a cross-country road trip without music.
At the risk of sounding too bumper sticker-y, it’s up to us to “Keep Aging Weird.” Wear your wackiness without fear. Reject the notion that getting older means fading into the background. Don’t let anybody box you into their idea of “aging gracefully.” And never let the world’s expectations stub out your vibrant, crazy spirit.
Be proud.
Be different.
Be weird.
Just don’t get arrested.
