Life can be tough, but when we know how to maneuver through it, the journey can be incredible.

Senior citizens enjoy a friendly game of pool at the Centenniel Recreation Senior Center.
Photo courtesy City of Morgan Hill.

By Dorie Sugay

Dorie Sugay

“Aging with an Attitude” was inspired by a handsome gentleman who passionately lived to be 104. To this day, he inspires my work with older adults, my writing and my own aging journey. He was my “adopted” grandpa. Known for his strong will and his goal to defy nature and age his way, Grandpa went through life with an “attitude”. . . especially about aging. He used to say, “I can’t stop aging, but I can go through it my way.”

And he aged . . . with dignity and grace, accepting the physical challenges, adjusting where he can “to make things work.”

He would say, “Don’t waste your time fighting it, accept what is and use your energy to focus on how to make the best of it.”

He still talked about his bucket list when he turned 100, declaring, “I will stop dreaming when I stop breathing.”

Even his exit strategy to the great beyond was a classic. He died (massive heart attack) after trying to dance (well, jiggle in place really) with all the ladies at his 104th birthday. And yes, this was how he wished to go — dancing.

When one says that someone “has an attitude” — it could be a derogatory statement. Not in Grandpa’s case. He was sassy and feisty. He really experienced life — as if each moment was a reason to be amused, to laugh, to feel, to have fun.

His attitude was laced with gratitude and joy for the privilege to live. When the doctor recommended that he slow down, he got up earlier to start his walk sooner so he could take breaks and still walk the distance he was told had become too far for him to continue. His positive attitude kept him going and going.

But nature had a different plan for Grandpa. His body slowed down. His mind, however, remained active. He continued to live as if there were still mysteries in life waiting for him to discover. He did not let being bed-ridden after an accident stop him from feeling alive. He would listen to a traditional Spanish music “Epaña Cañi,” close his eyes and imagine himself dancing the “Paso Doble” in Spain, moving his body ever so slightly from side to side.

I started writing under the heading “Aging with an Attitude” more than a decade ago, to encourage people to live so that they can “age with an attitude” like Grandpa did. I aim to inspire people to celebrate aging, move people to enjoy the privilege we call life, whether they are bed-ridden or are blessed to live life as a super-ager.

Life can be tough, but when we know how to maneuver through it, the journey can be incredible.  Aging usually includes physical and emotional challenges. In my humble way, I hope to share information that could help younger adults do what they should to age well as Grandpa taught me, and positively affect the way older people think, feel and act towards aging- earning the right to “age with an attitude.”

I will leave financial and legal tips to other capable columnists writing for this paper and focus on physical health (and enhancement), and mental health.

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) measures population health and quantifies the difference between the ideal of living to old age in good health and one where life is compromised by illness, injury, disability and premature death.

In a study conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation designed to find out which citizens are staying healthiest as they age, the top five countries (out of 195 countries assessed) that are aging the best according to GBD ratings include Switzerland, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and Italy.

Our great country was not even in the top 10. The United Nations General Assembly declared 2021-2030 the Decade of Healthy Aging to encourage global collaboration between countries to promote successful aging.

The world recognizes the need to promote aging wellness. Our country recognizes this as well.  Gilroy and Morgan Hill applied for and received Age Friendly City designations from the World Health Organization and work has been underway to be true to this designation.

What can you do?

How about if we work together to help South Valley residents have quality of life (no matter what that means) as we all age.  I will do what I can to share columns in future issues of Morgan Hill Life that can help readers. Feel free to email me with your ideas or names of people I can feature to inspire everyone to live high quality lives.

Let’s age with an attitude here in our beautiful region.

Dorie Sugay is the executive director of Visiting Angels, located at 8650 San Ysidro Ave., Suite 120. She can be reached at (408) 846-2988 or email here at [email protected].