retirement planning vs planning to grow older

There is a difference.

Very often we know and hear about the importance of thinking about and planning for retirement:

set money aside, the magic of compounding, thinking about where you want to live and what you want your lifestyle to be when you retire or partially shift gears from full time work.

And all that is good.

Perhaps you are working several side hustles now with multiple interests and enjoying life more along the way rather than setting your sights to adjust at age 65 or older.

While retirement planning is important, it occurs to me that nowhere along the line did I think about what's involved with growing older; how I might feel or look, in order to ease into it.

Maybe, because it's associated with dying , just didn't want to think about it or it never dawned on me that I would ever be as old as my teachers, my parents, coaches, relatives or others.

WELL, I AM THINKING ABOUT IT NOW!

Perhaps a bit more vulnerable, slowing down, decreasing or waning drive or activities, perhaps no need to hurry or scramble and hopefully have your physical and mental capabilities to decide, transition, act, put in place your speed and pace of entering your older years.

I guess my point is to give a little bit of thought, empathy and appreciation for old Uncle Phil or Aunt Susie or the changes in Mom or Dad or the older people you run into at the grocery store at one o'clock in the afternoon.

On the other hand, judges, some business people, entrepreneurs , teachers, politicians and musicians are active and contributing into their 70s and 80s and beyond and think about it from their perspective as well.

I really like Clint Eastwood's (the famous actor) view , he says, "Don't let the old man in", and still is mentally and physically engaged doing what he wants in the film and story-telling industry into his 90's.

Thinking about physically and mentally aging need not be depressing or discouraging at all and not a big surprise either when it happens.

It might make you appreciate the bandwidth you have in your middle years, the choices you can make and the importance of keeping your mind and body reasonably tuned to prepare as best as anyone can actually prepare for it . Most importantly, you can be certain it won't happen the way you think or want, so flexibility/adaptability, attitude adjustment and optimistic creativity might come in handy.

The good habits and bad habits often can get exaggerated in your later years and knowing that can be a very powerful and satisfying time.....or not. And one is never too old to change or improve .

Perhaps, you don't think about it at all except to be ready for what life may mean to you in your middle years and later years and to approach it with a positive attitude and outlook and a bit of forethought about shaping things.

I am hopeful you will find yourself thinking about and dealing with all the above well into your later years for a long and fulfilling lifetime!