New Leaves

Recently, on Instagram, I came across a video clip of actress Jane Fonda talking with Michelle Obama and others about her life and aging gracefully. You can watch the video clip here. Looking amazing for an 87-year-old woman, Jane shares some of her life wisdom, especially for what she calls her “final act.” Jane sees her life in three sections (similar to what I referred to in my blog post 3), and life after age 60 is considered to be her final act.

I’ve watched the video clip several times because she shares some relatable thoughts as I enter my years after age 60. The conversation has several takeaways, and I thought I’d share my thoughts with you.

Not Afraid of Aging or Dying

Jane begins by sharing she isn’t afraid of aging or dying. Since she has had several facelifts and possibly other cosmetic procedures, it could be she isn’t afraid of aging now but was at one time. I wouldn’t say I am afraid of aging, but there are things I don’t enjoy about it. I would say I am afraid of dying at this point. I think the fear comes from feeling like I have things I would like to do in my life and I wouldn’t want it to end sooner than I expected. Fear also comes in that I would miss the people I love so much.

Not Knowing How to Live for the Final Act

When Jane turned 60, she realized she didn’t know what the next years of her life would involve or how to live. This concept is something I can totally relate to. I have been processing what my next journey in life might be for the last six months.

Asked What Am I Afraid Of?

Jane asked herself, “What am I afraid of?” Her answer is one many of us can relate to. She said she didn’t want to die with regret. Jane watched her father die with regrets, and she claimed that wasn’t something she wanted to do. I have been thinking about regret lately. Surprisingly, I don’t have career regrets. I do wish I had made different choices and wished I had handled things in other ways, but I learned from each choice. However, regret for me does come into play with a few personal matters. I’ve learned to live with choices that impacted my well-being and others, but I now live in a more intentional way. I know I will make mistakes and misjudgments, but I’ll look at situations with a better understanding of their impact on myself and others.

Be Surrounded by People Who Love You

Being surrounded by those who love you is crucial, but more importantly during the latter years. Loving support leads to better mental and physical health, greater life satisfaction, while protecting against loneliness and other chronic issues. One thing Jane notes is that in order to be around those you love, it may require forgiveness. Forgiveness for others or even for yourself.

My greatest takeaway from Jane’s conversation is that aging is a blessing. To have the opportunity to live a long, healthy, love-filled life is something to be grateful for, and I intend to use my final act to make it my best one.