Don't Call Them Seniors!

Parade Magazine recently asked readers to come up with an alternative to the terms like “Senior Citizen” or “Elderly” to identify people who are over 60. And they got an earful and mailbox-full!

Many adults are shattering the stereotypes of doddering into old age. People who 50 years ago might have retired to a rocking chair are now skydiving, training horses, learning new lantuages, skiing, and traveling all over hte world. These active and involved folks came up with terms like "Seasoned Citizens," "Life 102," and "Re-Generation." One woman said she and her friends chose the term "OWLS" because they are "Older, Wiser, Livelier Souls."

This 60- to 80-year-old generation is breaking all the rules and setting new standards for involvement in the community. In addition to the activities and learning, people reported that giving back was a large part of this rewarding stage of their lives. How about "Legacy Launchers" or "Givebackers" to describe them?

Above all, keeping a sense of humor about life came through as a key to being happy with the inevitable changes that come with aging. You can read the full article here; I loved the explanation of why one man calls life after 60 "The Metallic Stage." Call them the "Re-Generation" or say they are enjoying "Rewirement," the sure bet is you won't find them sitting around twiddling their thumbs.

In the Charlottesville area, you might find them taking one of the University of Virginia's Personal Enrichment Courses, or seeing a show at The Paramount. The golfers could be out on one of the many courses in our county, and this time of year you'll find the gardeners taking a workshop at Monticello. Like so many others, these folks realize that the Charlottesville area is
a great place to spend what many are calling their "Prime Time."