Here I am another year into my 70’s. Since I’m almost halfway through 74, I am looking back as well as forward.

Fortunately, I am still in good health and I think how lucky I am. However, I also come into contact with many who are much older than I am. Although I don’t know about their health issues, they are still active. I have traveled with people in their 80’s and 90’s who are still alive and kicking. Most memorable is the 95 year old War War II veteran, who walked almost every step the rest of us took on our trip to New York. We found out that we had better not ask him if he needed help. He was very independent. His mind was sharp and he asked pertinent questions of all our guides. He is very much someone to admire and to emulate. Someday I hope to write a blog just about him because he is a fascinating man.

I had a scary lesson in regard to my limitations. In the summer I went on an amazing trip to Utah with my family. Here I learned lessons of humility and limitations. Even though I am healthy, I need to realize that I cannot do the things that I did 5 or 10 years ago. I hiked a difficult trail in Bryce Canyon because I was going to prove to myself and my family that I could do it. Bottom line was that I couldn’t do it. Going down into the canyon was easy, but coming out my energy gave out and I got scared that I couldn’t hike back to the top. With my family’s and the Park Ranger’s encouragement, I finally made it to the top, but it took a very long time. I was much more cautious after that. Although it is difficult to accept that I cannot do what I used to do, it is necessary. I still can be positive about my abilities.

Fortunately, I still have opportunities to travel. I think travel helps keep me younger. Since I have celebrated birthday 74, I have traveled to Utah, traveled the entire Blue Ridge Parkway with my husband, cruised the Dordogne and Gironde rivers in France and continued with a Paris stay and a driving and railroad tour of Brittany and Dordogne regions of France, and recently a trip to New York. These trips broaden my mind through so many experiences of meeting people and learning about the culture and history of these places. I think that exposing ourselves to new experiences is essential for us to keep learning and to broaden our views as we grow older.

Not every day is positive. But when I get in a funk, I really work hard to pull myself out of it. One day my granddaughter who is 18 told me that she felt old. In reply I said that some days I feel 18 or 50 or 100, but that passes. I try to remember age is a state of mind. So here’s to more days of being active in one way or another.

So as I continue my journey through my 70’s, I hope that my words encourage others who feel concern about getting older. On my trip to New York one of my new acquaintances turned 70. I said, “Don’t worry. 70 can be fun!” And it seemed to me that he was already enjoying a new decade.