Aging in America: Personal Views and Psychological Impacts Essay

This essay provides a personal reflection on the process of aging, contrasting current societal views with the author's own perspective. The author views aging as a natural process, acknowledging the anxieties associated with mortality but aiming to embrace the changes. The essay explores the psychological, physical, personal, and financial impacts of aging, highlighting changes in physical capabilities, psychological understanding, social values, and financial stability. The author defines 'old age' not by chronological age but by the subjective feeling of being old, influenced by physical sensations and emotional states. References to academic sources and online articles support the analysis, providing a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Aging
Students Name
Institutional Affiliation
Date

Compare the current views on aging in America to your personal views.
I view ageing as a gentle process rather than a point of no return. However, growing old
will always be a source of anxiety for me since it meant dying, which is an idea that makes me
unhappy. Even though I'm an "adult," I am attempting to put this dread aside because it is
unavoidable, and to see ageing as a natural process. Artificial teeth, ailments, aching bones, and
wrinkles come to mind when most folks think of the elderly. The fact is that the senior years are
much more than that. There are several ways to show progress, one of which is via life review
process and reminiscence (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2018). Because older folks have
lived for a longer time than their younger counterparts, they have more tales and life anecdotes to
share.
Describe how aging impacts you psychologically, physically, personally, and financially.
I have changed so much as I have gotten older! Physically, Everything I took for granted
in my twenties reappears as I become older. I can no longer run as many laps as I could in my
twenties. However, I have discovered that becoming old isn't the end of the world. I still live a
happy life and am capable of accomplishing goals. Psychologically, I have a better
understanding of things than I had when I was twenty, I have also come to accept myself for who
I am and be content with myself. I'm more relaxed than I used to be, and I've learned to pick my
conflicts wisely. In terms of social life, as I've become older, I've learnt to value my life and
friends more. I've learnt to do anything I want while I can, as long as I'm physically capable of it
(Sanderson & Huffman, 2019). Furthermore, I can claim that I have remained the same; I still
like talking!" Financially, I have grown more stable; my increased health and financial literacy is
linked to better decision-making, fewer susceptibility to frauds, and a high level of mental well-
being.

What do you consider old to be? Describe in detail.
It's not my age but how I feel, that makes me feel old. There's a distinction to be made
between ageing and becoming old. We all age; it's a given from the minute we emerge from the
womb, but being old is a decision.
When you cannot recall where you placed your phone or someone's name, notice more
wrinkles or a baggier buttock, aging doesn’t always feel like something of a choice. If these
events make me feel old, I am, without a doubt, getting older rather than simply ageing. No, the
distinction isn't just semantic. In high school, I distinctly recall pulling all-nighters and felt 90
years old following morning due to a lack of sleep (Nelson, 2022). Nothing like seven days in
bed with a horrendous ailment to cause you to feel 20 years older than your genuine age, whether
it's 40 or 60. We will quite often feel old when we're despondent. Notwithstanding, assuming I
Live that long, I will know when I am old in the event that I attain the age of 70-80 (Nelson,
2022).

References
Cavanaugh, J. C., & Blanchard-Fields, F. (2018). Adult development and aging. Cengage
Learning.
Nelson, N. (2022). It's not your age, It's how you feel about your age that counts. Sixty and
Me. https://sixtyandme.com/its-not-your-age-its-how-you-feel-about-your-age-that-
counts/
Sanderson, C. A., & Huffman, K. (2019). Real world psychology. John Wiley & Sons.