A Masterclass in Aging

The other night, a handful of our ProActive members and I went to see Bonnie Raitt in concert. As we made our way through the crowd, we kept bumping into other ProActive members. It was fun seeing so many familiar faces outside the gym, all of us enjoying a great night of music together.

I expected a good concert because I've always liked Bonnie Raitt's music.

What I got was much more than that.

Her voice was incredible—honestly, if you closed your eyes, you could have believed you were listening to someone 25 years younger. She played for over two hours, joked with the audience and her band members, switched effortlessly between guitar styles, and looked like she was having a wonderful time doing it. 

What struck me most, though, wasn't just her talent.

Throughout the evening, she spoke about the state of the world, sharing her thoughts on current issues and encouraging people to stay engaged. She mentioned several times that she still loves what she does and has no plans to stop anytime soon.

And why would she?

Just three years ago, at the age of 73, she won three Grammy Awards in one night, including Song of the Year. Most people think of their seventies as a time to slow down. Bonnie Raitt was busy producing some of the best work of her career.

That, to me, is what aging well looks like.

It's easy to think aging is all about wrinkles, aching joints, or what the scale says. But I think it's just as much about staying curious. Staying connected. Caring about what's happening around you.

Continuing to learn. Having a reason to get out of bed in the morning because you still have things you want to do.

Now, let's be fair—Bonnie Raitt also has advantages that most of us don't. She's had access to excellent healthcare, nutrition, trainers, and the financial resources that can certainly make healthy aging easier.

But money alone doesn't explain passion.

It doesn't explain why someone in their seventies is still touring, still performing at such a high level, still practicing their craft, and still finding joy in it.

Those are choices.

None of us get to choose every card we're dealt. Genetics matter. Life circumstances matter. Health challenges happen. 

But we do get to choose how we respond.

We can choose to keep moving our bodies, even if it's at a slower pace than we once did. We can choose to keep our minds active. We can choose to build friendships, pursue hobbies, laugh often, and stay engaged with the world instead of quietly stepping away from it.

Bonnie Raitt reminded me that getting older isn't something to fear.

It's something to prepare for.

And one of the best ways to prepare is by taking care of yourself today—so that when you're 76, whatever your "stage" happens to be, you're still excited to step onto it.

Remember, progress not perfection!

Shelley Turk