If you’ve found yourself saying, “But I’m too young!”, hear from one woman and her thoughts on aging.

The day I dreaded happened. It was the day all parents dread when their children are grown and making their own way. It was a particular Sunday, the day my daughter and her husband came for a visit. The day had gone along well, we were enjoying a family favorite, my ginger snap cookies. My grandchildren where there too.

My daughter, in a very sweet way steered the conversation to the future. Plans for the future and more specifically, what my plans were as I was getting older. I listened as she continued.  She suggested I take a look at a nearby senior living facility. “Me!:”, I said, “I’m still too young!”…

In my mind this was some time off into the future, surely she wasn’t talking about now, I thought. I didn’t feel ready to go, in fact I felt way too young and still able to take care of myself. In an effort to appease my daughter, I agreed to make a ‘visit’ so she too could see I was too young and these people we’d find there would be much, much older.

Then the day arrived. It was the day we’d agreed to make a visit to the nearby senior facility. I dressed in my ‘youngest’ outfit, thinking this would also set me apart… surely everyone would see I looked younger too!

As we approached, I agreed with my daughter the grounds were beautiful, clean and well kept. We walked in and it honestly felt a little more like a country club and restaurant atmosphere, not what I had envisioned. We were greeted and began the grand tour. We viewed the entry, halls, a few apartments, and made our way to the common areas. We entered a community room and I saw women sitting and playing cards.  They were laughing and having a great time. We were introduced and instantly I recognized, I too could be playing cards with these girls, they seemed like a ‘hoot’! They went on to say that by moving here, they enjoyed much more time together, less time worrying about transportation to meet up for cards or lunch and ultimately got to see each other more. They asked if I was moving in. In answer I wanted to repeat my earlier conclusion of “I’m too young!” but after I took a good look, they weren’t any older. Instead I said “I was thinking I’d wait until I was a little older”. “Why wait?” one woman said, “with all the possible activities and options to have fun, why wait until you can’t enjoy it?” Her words resinated, while I loved my home and all the memories there, perhaps it was time for me to try something new. The obligation of retaining a home for kids and visitors was weighing me down.

Shortly thereafter we sat down, reviewed options with my daughter, confirmed available apartments and I took the pludge. I made the move and I haven’t looked back. My daughter helped me create a picture collage of our home, all the kids and past celebrations in our home. I keep them at hand and they warm my heart reminding me of family and the fun times, I’m happy knowing I can do what I want to do, even at my young age!