Reality is all our bodies are getting older--each moment we live. Young ones are aware of this. They proudly declare, "I'm five (or fifteen) and a half!"  But there comes a day when many people "fudge" their age, like the old preacher who was "39 and some months."

Some researchers think what people consider "old" when they are young determines the way they age. Then we have 50-something celebrities who say 50 is the new 30. How we think through the entire process may be the key. 

One writer advised,  "Don't try to dress like your teenage" child or grandchild. Look for fashion-conscious clothes that say "mature," not "old." Frumpy is never "in."

Health seems to make a difference in the way people view themselves. It is wise to begin eating healthy in early adulthood. However, it is never too late to make that choice. People with chronic and degenerative conditions may need to work extra hard on the way they think about themselves.

"Use it or Lose it" applies to muscular health. Physical exercise has many benefits for mind and body. Check with health care professional first. It is possible to improve physical condition at any age, just at a slower page for older people. I read of an eighty-something man who ran his first marathon.

Here's something to think about. I have not seen research on this. However, one physician commented that people, especially women, who start greying in their 20s tend to develop thyroid problems. That may affect the way they age.