I’m so excited to introduce my new series “Best at Every Age!” In this series I’m going to cover everything from how a positive mindset can keep us young, to activities and anti-aging foods that can help us realize our potential and be our best – at every age! While I come at this from my own middling-to-senior perspective, if you’re breathing, this series is for you!

Is ‘Old Age’ Really In Your Head?

We all know at least one person whose chronological age makes them technically ‘old age’ but whose attitude and physical appearance makes them seem years younger than the number on their birth certificate. On the flip side, there are those who are only 40 to 50 years old that already seem to be ready for retirement.

What creates these differences?

Many people overlook the power of the mind when it comes to the aging process. People who lead active lives with social contacts and healthy, loving relationships often have a youthful mindset. They participate in sports, go dancing, eat out, and enjoy their bodies long after many others have given up.

Attitude is everything when it comes to your age

If you grew up in an era where ‘old age’ happened when a person reached the age of 50 years, you might already feel old on your fiftieth birthday. You may turn down opportunities for physical and social activity, become more sedentary and stop challenging your mind. If this is your path, you really will lose what you don’t use and you’ll age physically and emotionally much faster than those who maintain physical, cognitive, and social activities well into the age where many others feel  too old to participate in these activities.

Can you get back that young attitude?

If you’re truly motivated, it’s never too late to adopt a youthful mindset. You first need to recognize that age is just a number and that there are people much older than you who are doing things you may consider ‘too old’ for them. Look at people who act and look younger than their years. They understand that taking care of their body takes precedence over everything else, and have refused to give into a number mindset. They continue to participate in youthful activities and are mentally alert, curious about life, and haven’t given up trying new things.

Compare these people with those who shy away from fun and challenging activities, and prefer being sedentary to an active lifestyle. These might be people who decide they’re too old to give up the bad habits that contribute to their aging, such as smoking, excessive eating and alcohol, and have given up the care it takes to look and feel young.

What kind of person do you want to be?

If instead of greeting each day with gratitude, you dread your birthdays and see the passing years as a year closer toward death, your motivation and determination to feel and look young will be diminished. And you’ll reflect that attitude in the way you present yourself to others. The difference truly is in your mindset. If you decide that your body is a temple and continue to respect, care, and challenge it, you’ll have no difficulty seeing yourself as young and vibrant. Your risk of stressful chronic diseases will be less and you’ll feel less stress when you carry yourself better and think of yourself as younger than your chronological age.

If your ancestors lived long and healthy lives, take solace in knowing that you probably will too, and you can carry a youthful mindset throughout your middle years and beyond. And even if your ancestors did not live long and healthy lives, know that medical science is on your side. Great advancements have been made with prevention and management of chronic diseases so that you can continue to feel and be young, well into your older years.

Always remember that age is just a number, and it doesn’t dictate how you should feel or act, whether you’re 50, 70 or even 90.