Since the middle of the last century,  Americans have declared war on many socio-economic issues.  I was one among many who protested Americas’ involvement in the Vietnam War; but how could could I or anyone protest the War on Poverty, the War on Drugs, The War on Crime, the War on Cancer….and on and on?  And today If war is not declared, then we are  fighting for Civil Rights, fighting Cancer, fighting Alzheimers, fighting Aging, …etc.  Lets not forget the battle of the bulge or the battle for women’s’ rights. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to lose . I certainly don’t want to lose the war on aging, so I need to fight aging and be victorious in the  battle against aging. Or do I?

I believe the language and construct  of war on aging ( i.e. fighting and battling, winning or losing) is false and limiting and doesn’t fit reality or allow for choices that can take the experience of aging out of a war zone. I protest the War on Aging and insist that it is time we “give peace a chance” The truth is that as humans we will all age and die. This physical reality can not be avoided, but as  we age we  can take care of ourselves, adopt a healthy lifestyle and search for passion and a spiritual connection in our ” One day at a time” lives. We can accept our experiences and emotions and  live in and beyond them without needing to go to war with what is essentially just a number. Life gets rich as we age and we need “fertilizer”.

Wrinkles are not battle lines, they are life lines.  Gray hair or the lack of hair does not mean that aging has attacked us and we are pale with defeat; it’s just that gray goes with everything  and baldness really draws attention to our beautiful eyes.  Computers, tablets, I phones, and Bluetooth are not weapons of war and maybe if we study hard we can say ” I know how to do that, let me show you , and I will go slow so you can keep up”.  OK. So maybe I would like the thrill of victory once and awhile!