HealthLinksSC.com | 11 FROM THE EDITOR... I’ve hit that age when AARP envelopes arrive at least once a week. Box office youngsters remind me about senior discounts and social media bombards me with posts about miracle cures for droopy eyelids and waning drive. Despite the barrage, I feel much younger than how others perceive and sometimes treat me. I’m less haunted by a fear about what others think of me. I think most seniors have that sense of humble entitlement to be accepted “as is” as the years pass. There have been great strides in the way our country treats senior citizens – housing is improving and churches and nonprofits unfold resources and programs that help the elderly feel less lonely, less vulnerable and less hungry. But ageism remains a sad, cultural norm. In other cultures, seniors are revered and more confident. People seek their advice and ask them to tell stories about their past. They listen, keenly aware that those stories are repositories of history, hopes, fears and cultural values that could disappear with the elder’s last breath. In other cultures, people can age with grace. I might be able to go to Japan or visit Native Americans for an “aging rocks” experience, but this issue of HealthLinks confirms that there are plenty of people aging with grace in the Charleston area, finding happiness in nature or playing bridge and bingo rather than buying more units of Botox. The seniors that HealthLinks reporters and I have talked to focus on how well their bodies and minds have carried them, rather than the time one or both let them down. Rather than fading into oblivion, they seize new opportunities, learn new skills and welcome diverse perspectives with eagerness and focus. They avoid foods and people who are toxic, and they tap the latest medical advances that can take over when certain body parts peace out. It has been an honor to learn from them and about them. Throughout the holiday season, I hope you’ll take a moment to reach out to an older relative, friend or neighbor and offer the incredible gift of time. Ask them some questions that inspire them to talk about the past. Ask for advice about love, health and aging. And by listening, discover new truths. To simple pleasures and good health, Lisa Breslin, Managing Editor NOV/DEC 2023 CHARLESTON PHOTOGRAPHY AND POSING EXPERT VISIT JENNCADY.COM AND SCHEDULE YOUR PHOTOSHOOT TODAY!
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