Why Sixty-Eight Feels Better Than I Expected

The practices that keep me strong, active, and independent

Halfway up a snowy mountain with my 39-year-old friend and my dog, I caught myself thinking, is this what 68 is supposed to feel like?

Photo by Katie Dyer

Most people expect their bodies to decline steadily with age. Mine hasn’t.

I know I was born in 1957. The math doesn’t lie, yet I feel not substantially different than 40 or even 38.

I speak with people younger than me who feel older, and people my age and older who function much less than I do. Some of it is luck. Many people face health challenges that limit mobility. I have arthritis and a manageable autoimmune condition, but others deal with much more.

Age is going to happen no matter what you do. But experience and science tell us that if we apply resistance, we can stay active and feeling good. In contrast, just accepting the accumulating changes will lead to the loss of independence.

I didn’t arrive here by chance.

Over the past decade, since becoming a personal trainer and yoga teacher, I’ve learned that aging well requires one simple decision: apply resistance.

I’ve developed a strategy that keeps my body strong and my mind clear.
It has eight parts.

1. Strength train
I strength train my whole body three times a week. I specifically feature lower body work to maintain full range of motion and power in my arthritic right knee.

My current must-do is standing up from a seated position on one leg and sitting back down (without plopping) on the same leg. It’s easy on my good side and quite challenging on my bad side — but I’m committed to the strength gains that are accruing.

2. Sleep
I sleep 7+ hours a night. I’ve never been a 9-hour sleeper, but I get in bed early to unwind, so I’m in bed at least 9 hours.

3. Eat well
I include protein in every meal and snack and eat a wide range of vegetables and fruits. I have what I like in reasonable portions and never restrict or deprive.

Strength training boosts my metabolism. If I want ice cream, I enjoy it. At 68, I weigh what I weighed at 30 — but my abs are better now.

4. Walk
Walking supports my body, mind, soul, and even my eyes. I get out in nature, see friends and neighbors, and take my dog on adventures.

Looking into the distance after close work helps reset the eyes. And my dog makes walking non-negotiable.

5. Hydrate
I don’t measure, but I always have water nearby. I drink before, during, and after workouts, with my morning coffee, and whenever I feel hungry — because sometimes it’s just thirst.

I stop drinking a couple of hours before bed to avoid waking up at night.

6. Work with purpose
I work at what I love with no thought of retirement. Fitness and playwriting keep me engaged, and volunteering keeps me connected. Purpose matters whether you’re working or retired.

7. Stay social
I connect in person, say yes to invitations, try new things, and welcome opportunities.

8. Meditate
I meditate regularly. It may be for only a few minutes or a longer session. Energetic and active by nature, I’ve learned to appreciate the calm.

I confess that for years I was active, but my training was random. I’m grateful to be dialed in now — maintaining strength, protecting independence, and enjoying the new.

Ten years from now, I expect to be fully independent — still climbing mountains, accepting challenges, and seeking fresh adventures.