By Tracy Fischer, ADRC manager for the ADRC of Dunn County
According to Carolyn Worthington, editor-in-chief of Healthy Aging Magazine and executive director of Healthy Aging, it’s never too late to find a new career, a new sport, passion, hobby or work on your health issues. Worthington is the creator of September is Healthy Aging Month, an annual health observance designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older.
Now more than 20 years since it began, September is Healthy Aging Month provides inspiration and practical ideas for adults, ages 45-plus, to improve their physical, mental, social and financial well-being.
The numbers of people over 45 are growing every year. The attention used to be just on the baby boomers. Now, the Generation X-ers are elbowing their way in and have many of the same interests as the previous generation – stay active and vibrant as long as possible. There are over 76 million baby boomers today over 50 and the first of the 82.1 million generation x-ers reached that milestone in 2015.
“Use September as the motivation to take stock of where you’ve been, what you really would like to do,” says Worthington. “And try it! Who says you have to follow a career related to what you studied in school? Who says, you can’t start your own home business later in life? Why not choose a new athletic goal (5K anyone?), or do something wildly different from anything you’ve done before? Only that person you see in the mirror!”
Why is September Healthy Aging Month?
According to Worthington, “We saw a need to draw attention to the myths of aging, to shout out ‘Hey, it’s not too late to take control of your health, it’s never too late to get started on something new.’ Why not think about the positive aspects of aging instead of the stereotypes and the negative aspects?”
September is a perfect time to celebrate Healthy Aging Month since it is time when many people think about getting started on new tasks after the summer.
Drawing on the “back to school” urge embedded in everyone from childhood, the observance month’s activities are designed to encourage people to rejuvenate and get going on positive measures that can impact the areas of physical, social, financial and mental wellness.
Information credited to: Healthyaging.net
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