GiGI'S ADVENTURES IN AGING

 You are reading a lifestyle blog for women seventy-five years and older. However, this is an all-inclusive blog, and women of all ages are welcome here! I'll be blogging on aging, fashion, finance, family, and other senior fun stuff.

My name is GG -- actually, it's not -- the initials stand for the Goddess Grandmother which is a mouthful and so my granddaughters prefer just calling me GG. Currently, I am the oldest woman in the family, so I happily accept the title, Goddess Grandmother, or the synonym. Some of the girls spell my name GiGi, so let's go with that.  I am over 80 years old and no beauty by any means...but I do have all of my teeth.

The women in our family are self-proclaimed goddesses, purely a state of mind and achievable for every woman. We celebrate the strength, intelligence, humor, and sense of adventure that we treasure in one another. Occasionally when we get together, we wear our tiaras and share adult beverages.

While I may not be an expert on aging, I am experiencing the process on a daily basis. I possess past and present personal knowledge and am always prepared to speculate on the future. At times, I may be opinionated. I'll be silly. I'll be serious.

On this blog, you'll find information, helpful resources, encouragement, and support -- hopefully with a chuckle or two.

From time to time I'll be quoting the U.S. Census Bureau, CDC, the National Council of Senior Citizens, and other influential aging organizations. Just for some examples, did you know life expectancy has increased, the gender gap has narrowed in mortality rates and we are working longer? Oh, and there's so much more to come. Do you feel invisible? Are you residing in the anti-aging camp? Is your social life a disaster? Have your children taken your keys away?

As of this moment...and I am a woman so I may change my mind...a new blog will appear on My Adventures in Aging every Wednesday. (Perhaps more than once a week if the spirit moves me.)

So please join me and we'll adventure forth and forward together.

ADJUSTING!

 The vitality, or energy, that once was an integral part of my nature is no longer a sure thing. What happened? Energy is defined as the capacity or power to work, or the ability to be physically and mentally active. Once a type A personality, my energy level is way  different now at 80 years of age than it was at 60. Is yours?

Alas! My energy now comes in spurts. Short bursts really. At first I was bothered by this new aging challenge. All right. I felt annoyed. Also angry and frustrated. There have been days when I have been known to scream. (In the closet where no one can hear me). And cry. (I do not have to run to the closet. I can cry anywhere as long as I’m alone).

You see, back in my A type of personality day, I accomplished quite a bit in a twenty-four hour period. Accomplishments fed my energy, vitality. Now, not without a nap. I’m afraid I’ve reached that stage in life when any accomplishment is iffy. Even on the energetic days.

Studies suggest that those of us having difficulty adjusting to our age and capabilities must acknowledge that we are in a different stage of life. Instead of bemoaning our loss of vitality, we should do what we can to increase our energy. (According to the doctors I’ve spoken with, that would be through exercise of our bodies and minds.) Argh! Apparently by the age of seventy most of us have lost muscle mass which results in a loss of strength and an increase in fatigue. Problems such as joint damage and lack of socialization are aging challenges that often lead to inertia. Not a good thing.

I wake up in the morning, happy and relieved to do so, believe me! And I know almost immediately if it will be a day of vitality or not. Inertia can happen on a gray day, a rainy day, or most any day at all.

After a bit of a learning curve I have learned to roll with the lethargy. Reading a good book always whiffs away the disappointment. And there are days when I just shrug my shoulders and add to my to-do list for the following day. (Yes, I still make a to-do list. Have I mentioned being an A type personality in a former life?) When I feel no energy at all, I make reservations for dinner.

Hallelujah if it’s a vitality day! On days when the energy is pumping, the achievements multiply like dust bunnies beneath the bed. I make up for lost time and give thanks for the energy I’m feeling—even if it’s not available on a daily basis. This is me adjusting to a new stage of life.

If you’re missing the vitality that used to bubble through your veins, take a minute. Just breathe. And be glad you can! Count those things you are grateful for having...not what you’ve lost. We will live to sparkle another day! 

FIVE REASONS FOR EMBRACING AGING

Five Reasons for Embracing Aging

1) There is no scientific evidence that anti-aging creams and supplements actually work

2) Cosmetic surgery is expensive and more than "uncomfortable." Surgery is painful and may leave you looking like you just arrived from outer space.

3) The younger members of your family believe that advanced age equals advanced wisdom. (Not necessarily, but no sense in correcting them.)

4) Longevity means the opportunity to watch your grown grandchildren's adult journey and be able to offer helpful suggestions -- whether or not you're asked.

5) Medical miracles for geriatrics may be just around the corner. Any day now there will be cures for the myriad of mysterious aches and pains we suffer from daily.

        There is no other choice. The alternative sucks.

Blogging on Aging, family, finance and other senior fun stuff!

 Just so you know from the get-go, some of these blogs maybe just plain silly. And because there are countless aging issues to cover in the days and weeks ahead, I'd like to get the serious, major statistics on aging out of the way.

For instance, there are over fifty million men and women over the age of sixty-five in our country and that figure is expected to double by 2060. (Not that I, for one, will ever know for certain even if I live to be one hundred.)

Way back in 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau counted over fifty-three thousand centenarians, those of us one hundred years old - and older.

These statistics are just for starters. Simply put, those of us sixty-five and older are: 

Working longer

Have increased life expectancy 

Can celebrate the gender gap has narrowed on mortality rates.

There are many local and national organizations to assist the challenge of aging  and I'll be blogging about them as time goes on.

Who am I? My family calls me GG, for the goddess grandmother. (Sounds better than very old woman or even matriarch) I am well over 75 years old and no beauty by any means - but I do have all of my teeth. (Well, most of them.)