The good folks at the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) have announced the fifteenth annual observance of Active Aging Week, something you might want to observe on September 24-30th this year. (You can find out more about ICAA at www.icaa.cc )
The theme this year, “Ignite your passion,” got me to thinking about the outcomes for our well-being at this stage in life. It’s clear from the attitudes and work of organizations like ICAA that there is a strong correlation between activity and well-being. I get that—thus far in my own aging I’m staying active physically, mentally and spiritually.
I also understand—and fervently believe—that there are more ways to be active than first meet the eye. As I read some of what ICAA is proposing as the focus of our aging passion(s), I got the impression that a whole lot of us are going to be cut out of “being active”. We just can’t do zip lines, drumming, going to barbecues, doing yoga, taking cooking classes or dancing. So we might be tempted to sit back—remember, sitting is NOT good for our health!—and ignore the fervent wishes of this fine organization.
On further reading, though, I realized that the ICAA also understands what “active” means in its deepest sense. These good folks also acknowledge being mentally, emotionally and spiritually active! And that got me thinking: What’s it mean to be spiritually active? What would “active emotions” feel like? Who could help us stay mentally active? Who around us are examples of active aging? And where could any of us find the motivation to get off our keisters and start moving again?
I encourage you to observe this week however you can, and to ignite your own passions for being fully alive.
Happy Active Aging Week!
