Video: Finding Balance At 70
As he turns 70, Dr. Weil discusses the balancing act of successful aging. We must acknowledge the fact that we are older, he says, but avoid an obsessive focus on the limits that may come with it. At every age, he says, there are always more possibilities for growth and exploration than we can ever imagine.
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Video Transcript: Dr. Weil Reflects on Turning 70
Turning 60 was big for me because it really made me face the fact that I have less life ahead of me than I have behind me and felt like a divide in my life. 70, I think is another big milestone because I canāt escape the fact that Iām old. You know, Iām an elder; thatās a polite way of saying that Iām old. When I was growing up, 70 seemed ancient. Now I think many 70 year olds today are different from the way 70 year olds were when I was growing up. I think thatās a result of people having better information and better products and services and better preventive medical care. Iāve been blessed with good health; Iām active. I feel changes in my body, but you know I canāt escape the fact that Iāve lived for 70 years. I see many of my contemporaries who are not in very good shape and I get calls from people I went to college with and high school with who are now facing really serious health crises and life-threatening illnesses. As I say, I feel blessed about that but Iām also aware that, you know, Iāve seen in my own parents and people I know, that the decade between 70 and 80 is often a decade of decline and a decade of change. I want to be prepared for that and I guess I feel that whatās most important is to find a balance between denying the reality of aging and being overly obsessed with it. And I think both of those are pitfalls. You know, I want to be aware of my limitations and changes in my body and possible risks. I want to be especially vigilant about my physical health and keeping my mind active and at the same time I donāt want to dwell on the negative possibilities of aging. So I think finding that balance is going to be important for me.