Seventy Is Not The New Fifty. But It Is The New Seventy.

By Erica and Karen

We both have birthdays right about now, so we are thinking about what it means to rack up another year of life, especially as we have seventy of them already. Here’s how we are feeling:

• Proud. How on earth did we get this far? Good for us!

• Unnerved. Where exactly are we? What does it mean to be seventy? We are in uncharted territory because never before has seventy been like this for a whole cohort.

• Grateful. For public health advances in the middle of the last century that gave us decades more of healthy life.

• Excited. To enjoy whatever is next.

One thing we don’t feel (usually) is old, though we certainly discern that we have lived each and every one of our years. Should we feel old? Are we kidding ourselves?

It depends what you mean when you think of old.

One of our good friends embraces the term old, on the theory that being older is wonderful and those of us who are should broadcast it. We’re in agreement on the theory but not on the language. The language evokes images that have nothing to do with us.

One definition of old is: having lived for a long time; no longer young, with this usage: "the old man lay propped up on cushions." OK, we have lived a long time and are no longer young, but we really have no need to be propped up on cushions. Usually. So—are we old or not?

We say no. Old, at least in our culture, has become a status characterized by decline and withdrawal and senescence. That does not define us, and it is, understandably, a status no-one wants to achieve. As a recent study put it:

The pattern of age differences observed in the current study aligns well with research and theory suggesting that people psychologically distance themselves from older adults by providing younger age perceptions and older developmental transitions.

This is crazy. Being older can be wonderful, if approached with care and without fear. So it’s time to reset the image—just like it’s time to reset the image of retirement, another fine status. Not to suggest that 70 is the new 50, or to try to look younger than we are. But to celebrate what it means today to be 70 or 80 or 90—and what that looks like.

For one thing, 70 might be considered pretty old if your life expectancy is 73. But what if your life expectancy is 93? Some are trying to change the old calculation by looking forward, not just backward, to shift the perspective from how many years you have lived to how many you have yet to live.

There is no reason to associate any particular number of years with decay and decline and decrepitude. Most of us have in our power at least some of the tools we need to make sure our age is a good age. Inevitably, our bodies will change. The Mayo Clinic lists changes associated with age—but then tells us what to do about those changes to make sure we are still our best selves, detailing actions we can take to change outcomes. Notably, in just about every category—including mental acuity— physical activity is crucial.

And there is at least some data to suggest that being extroverted may stave off cognitive decline, while being neurotic may not, and even that our attitude toward aging will affect how old we feel—approaching age with optimism may cause us to actually act less old. Iris Apfel is surely one living representative of these possibilities.

There is no question that being older does not have to mean being in retreat. As Wired magazine puts it:

Today, our perception of age is changing more than ever. Thanks to advancements in science, medicine and technology, we may be living longer – well into our 70s, 80s and even 90s – and accordingly we will need to continue to redefine what it means to be “old.” These advances also present an opportunity to start thinking about a not-too-distant future where aging may not mean losing vitality and functionality physically, mentally and emotionally but maintaining or even gaining it as members of a new generation making meaningful contributions to society.

We reject the idea, put forth by some, that it would be more mature to accept the infirmities of age, like silver hair, and not act like frenetic Boomers trying to challenge the inevitable biological decline we all face. First of all, our hair is not silver, it is a muddy color we don’t like, so we choose to adopt colors we do like. Second, we are not reframing age—the third demographic dividend did that for us. We are simply rising to the challenge. Nor are we rejecting age. We are embracing being 70 and 80 and 90 and still able to walk—and dance. We are the beneficiaries of a great gift, and we plan to make the most of it.

All of us are on the front lines of a revolution in how aging is done, and how it is perceived. What fun! Yes, we will have to work at it, and at some point maybe we will need to be propped up on cushions, but not for a good long while if we keep moving.

We will celebrate our birthdays with a long walk, then share some of that celestial elixir with the magical ability to enhance any age—champagne—with friends.

Happy birthday to us!