CRISIS OF AGING

I think I have officially entered a middle-aged crisis. It's taken me a long time to get to this point. The key is to find my way out of the crisis while still growing older. Age is more of a mental state than a physical state. When the mid-life crises strike, we can't let our minds grow old. It is easy to do. I find myself more aware of the changes in my body, the aches and pains, feeling out of place in a room full of younger people, worrying about retirement. Am I relevant and do I replenish the people I hang around with or do I just drain the life out of them? I find that today more than ever, I have to challenge myself to stay mentally young. Here are a few things I will work on:

* Dress as young as I can without looking like an idiot. There is a fine line. What you wear determines how you feel. Best way to tell is to ask one of your children. They will tell you the truth.

* Hang around younger people. It's more exciting to be with younger people. When I am around people my age (for the most part) I feel old.

* Keep up with technology like Facebook and Twitter. You can go overboard with them, but like it or not, that's what younger people are using today to build community.

* Read books and newspapers and go to movies. Keeping up with the culture is important to staying relevant to our culture.

* Remember that we are a vital resource to our community. I can help younger women who may be struggling. I can look back and say that I have experienced a lot.

* Change taste in music. I will always love the Bee Gees, but now I enjoy John Mayer, Cold Play and Sara Barriles among others. Sorry, I can't do the rap thing and never will.

If you are like me, keep it young.

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