A close friend of mine who I’ve known since college wrote to me today and, after filling me in on all the positive news of his life with his wife, kids, and grandkids, let me know that he recently received a cancer diagnosis. He was quick to add that his doctor said that if you had to have cancer, this was a “good” one, which is, of course, very happy news in the bigger picture. I have another close friend who had a “good” kind of cancer and is now healthy, happy, and fully recovered. So, I am delighted to hear this is treatable and perhaps only requires the removal of a kidney, nothing more. Still, receiving this email started me thinking about what it means to have the good fortune to get older.

When Leonard Cohn turned seventy he described it as being “in the foothills of old age,” not really old yet, but moving in that direction. As someone who is hiking in those foothills, along with many of my friends, I recognize that there are some serious challenges on the horizon, if I’m lucky enough to stay alive until then, of course. Those challenges include losing close family and friends, navigating a potential illness of my own, making sure I don’t trip and hit this head of mine (my kids have already mentioned that my brain is shrinking with age and a blow to the head would be BAD), and just navigating the day-to-day small obstacles that come with getting older, such as diminished hearing and eyesight, which luckily so far are correctable. Then, of course, looming off in the far distance (I hope) are changes that bring with them less freedom of movement (like driving), more concern for where I live, and, God forbid, worries for my kids about what to do with Mama as she approaches her dotage. Dear Lord in Heaven, who wants to think of any of that? Still, I suppose it’s okay to look at aging straight in the face. After all, as we all are fond of saying, it beats the alternative, yes? Yes, it does.

I have many examples of people aging with grace all around me. I am lucky enough to have had a mother who stayed young until the very end by trying new things and staying connected to people through her work and personal relationships. I also have many childhood friends and friends of my older siblings who show me via Facebook how they are walking through the aging process with aplomb. Finally, I have the good fortune of having several very close friends at Story Circle Network who make me look like a spring chicken and they are not only doing great mentally and physically but also writing daily and producing book after book after book. So, I see quite clearly that there are many ways to move from the foothills to the slopes of old age with intelligence, dignity, and poise. Still, it is odd in a way that I’ve reached an age when much of what I thought I might do is now not actually doable anymore. I mean, I could still apply for medical or law school, but they perhaps won’t be so eager to snap me up.

I guess the point of this post is to not come up with any conclusions but rather to open up the topic. I wonder how you, dear older readers, navigate the challenges you face and what you’ve learned in the process. Any helpful hints for this relatively young whippersnapper here? Or if you just happen to be an old soul in a young body, then feel free to let me know what you’ve learned about life and aging. I am all ears.

The one thing I’ve learned so far is not to count my chickens. I might think I’m going to be around long enough to tackle those steep mountain slopes only to find that I thought wrong. That is a simple truth of life and death. One can’t really predict when the latter will decide today is the day.

If you have some wisdom to impart, please add it in the comments on WordPress or Facebook, or Linkedin. I truly would love to hear what you know about getting older. We can help each other with this, after all. I, for one, would appreciate a little hard-earned knowledge from my friends.