Notions of Aging are Changing

 The idea of someone turning 65, retiring, and then becoming frail and obsolete is no longer.  I opened up the LA Times on October 19 and found a front-page story titled, “Pole dancer, 71, strips away notions of aging, sexuality.” 

The article talks about Mary Serritella, who performs under the name Mary Caryl.  Serritella started pole dancing at 57 when her youngest of three graduated college.  Serritella still wears high heels, performs in bikinis, and works out at least five times a week to maintain the upper body strength and flexibility required to climb a pole and bend, twist, and coil herself into positions most women would think are impossible.

But she is not Superwoman.  Serritella still deals with certain inconveniences of age—including arthritis, which makes gripping the pole difficult, and she replaced a hip five years ago. 

Serritella knows that it might take more work than it once did for an older woman to feel beautiful and strong but that doesn’t mean it’s not impossible.  Her message is that if there is something you want to do you should try it.  “We say our children are our future, and that’s true, but we’re their future too.   

The same day I read about Serritella, The Wall Street Journal had a front page article about designer Giorgio Armani, 90, who was celebrating the nearly 50 years of his fashion and lifestyle company.  Armani is the sole shareholder of a company that has remained independent since its founding in 1975 and oversees a fashion empire, restaurants, retail stores, fragrances and more.

Armani has not really slowed down.  For him, work is medicine.  He did suffer from some health issues this past summer but said “as soon as I started working again, I felt better.”  At this point, he has shown no signs of stopping. 

We should all keep in mind the lessons offered to us by Mary Serritella and Giorgio Armani.  What they both show us is that finding a purpose and doing what you like keeps you going.  Setbacks are not roadblocks but rather detours.  You can always be moving forward.