Myths of aging – Younger is better – older is worse

I’m starting to read a wonderful book by Albert Ellis, Ph.D. and Emmet Velten Ph.D.

It is called Optimal Aging: Get Over Getting Older.The book is about the topic of this website and is written from the point of view of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) which is related to cognitive behavioral therapy.

I opened the book on a random page and got to a section about the myths of aging. I’m going to write posts about each one of these myths and other aging myths that I come upon. The first myth is:

Younger is better – older is worse

The book gives possible irrational beliefs: I HAVE TO be young! It’s awful to age. In REBT two of the major irrational beliefs which need be countered to live a happy life are “have to’s” and “awfulizing.” These show themselves in “musts,” “shoulds” and other commands to yourself and others.

The authors suggest a rational rebuttal: “Being alive is better! The key to happiness at any age is attitude.”

I wish to add simple examples where being older is better. We can start with wine where good wine becomes better with age. Next let’s examine being young and inexperienced. There are many things that you cannot legally do until you reach a certain age.

In fact think about it. Our health care system sucks (technical term) until we reach the age of 65 and can get government sponsored health insurance (medicare).

In the East many mystical systems would not allow one to practice until one had lived a full life and done one’s duty to the secular world by getting married, having children and getting over the games of the ego (power, wealth, fame) and then one could turned truly toward the Spirit (infinite intelligence, God) and practice loving kindness.

I know that when I was young I did many stupid things and now I do way fewer. I’m more balanced and moderate in all things. But as the authors of the book wrote, the most important factor of how you age is your attitude. When you have an optimistic point of view and practice life long learning, a sense of adventure, believe in loving kindness and forgiveness, and all together laugh a lot and have fun from simple things (watching a sunset, going for a walk in the park, visiting a museum) you will age gracefully and you’ll know that each moment of your life (in the here and now) is the best in spite of al ups and downs…..

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