Getting older comes upon us suddenly. Creeping up on little cat’s feet, you might say. With apologies to poet Carl Sandberg.

One day the future looks endless and the next we are only too aware of our mortality.

It can be… a shock.

But it’s inevitable. If we’re lucky, that is.

So here’s my best advice–and I’m only 73, so take it with a grain of salt (or a whole truckload. It’s up to you.)

1. Ignore it.
   That is to say, live every day and try not to think about the end game.
2. Make your dreams come true.
   It’s not too late. Even if you don’t have the energy to do things the way you once did, find a way to complete a reasonable facsimile. Adaptation is everything! You may not hike down to Grand Canyon, but you can stand on the rim and be awed by the sight. You may not backpack in the red rocks but you can take a gentle walk in beautiful parks in Sedona. Maybe you won’t ski in Switzerland but, by golly, you can go to Switzerland and have a hot toddy in a snowy lodge.
3. Hug as much as you can. 
   Your dog. Your spouse. Your kids. Your parents.
4. If you love someone, tell them. Repeatedly.
   How are people to know how you feel if you don’t tell them?
5. Stay active to the extent you can.
   Move your body every day. Gentle walks. Chair yoga, Lifting light weights. Or more if you can do it. Every little bit counts!
6. Appreciate every moment.
   Life is a gift.
7. Every so often, walk down Memory Lane.
   Remember all you’ve done with joy.
   Don’t dwell on options now closed to you–appreciate that you once had them and made the most of them.
8. Enjoy simple pleasures.
   A call with a dear friend. A delicious meal. Flowers in the neighborhood. Sunshine. The stars.
9. Give back. Find a way to contribute to the world around you.
   Do something for someone else every day. Even if it’s just a compliment. ESPECIALLLY, a compliment! Oh, and they cost nothing!
10. And most important: “Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.”
    It’s from the Desiderata and I think that one phrase says it all. That graceful surrender is the key to aging contentedly.What would you add?