Are you old, senior or elderly?

As more and more Canadians pass 65, it may be helpful to use gerontology terminology to describe our age group. Gerontologists divide "older adults" into four categories, by age:

· 65 to 74 is "young old"

· 75 to 84 is "middle old"

· 85 to 99 is "older old"

· 100+ is "very old"

So, I am young old and will be for a few more years. My friends and I approve of the terms "senior" and "old age," when followed by the words "discount”. For the most part, we agree that "elderly" should be reserved for people who are frail with diminishing faculties, and not used automatically for anyone over, say, 65.

And, we think that the tendency to use words like "elderly" without consideration, indicate an aspect of ageism.

Some of us think that ageism is beginning to fade, in part because as famous baby boomers enter their senior years, they're not stepping out of the spotlight. Yet others think it still exists in spades, just watch the Saturday Night Live episode of May 13th to see ageism in action.

But on the other hand, just look at some of the stars that are still around, The Rolling Stones, or Tina Turner I watched Dolly Parton on television last night. I don't call Dolly Parton old! (In case you missed Dolly's last birthday: she's 71.)

So, our gerontologists talk about the 'young old,' the 'middle old,' the 'older old,' and the 'very old.' So, the 'young old' would be 65 to 74, 'middle old' is 75 to 84, 'older old' is 85 and over, and then the 'very old' are centenarians. Which leads me to my question:

How would you like to be referred to when you're over 60 (ish)?

1. Give it to me straight: I'm old

2. I think "senior" has an air of dignity to it

3. I like the technical terms: young old, middle old, etc.

4. Why are you trying to put me in a box?

5. Other: Zoomer, Older Boomer, Sonic Boomer or ...

Let me know. My answer is Other "I am a Sonic Boomer"

Clear Blue Skies

Looking up through a blue sky this morning. Unbelievable! When you look up do you see the same? Brilliant clear, cerulean, indigo, cobalt-kind-of-magical? There really are no words for it. Beautiful even pales. And to think we get to live under it every single day of our life, knowing that even with the darkest and bleakest weather, just above the fog there exists such lustrous brilliance. 

As if to hint at what forever might look like, to remind you of your eternal reach, and to make clear life's perfection. Because if such beauty can exist in the sky alone, with only a palette of azure, imagine what else is out there for us? 

Sometimes, to be frank, it’s all so gorgeous it makes my soul leap.

Ever hear voices?

Did you ever hear voices or your name being called, only to spin around and see absolutely no one? It has happened to most of us, some say it is fate, others say the voice is a vision, or a warning, or a omen, but hearing your name called is a relatively common experience.

Statistics vary, but it’s generally accepted that between 3 and 10% of the population hear voices that other people don’t. If you include one off experiences (like hearing someone call your name when you’re out shopping, or feeling your phone vibrate in your pocket) this figure goes up to 75%. So, having at least one experience of hearing or seeing something that others around you don’t is incredibly common. Those that have never had this experience are in the minority.

There are lots of different theories and ideas to explain why people hear voices or see visions. These include:

§  A special gift or sensitivity

§  Trauma or adverse life experiences

§  Dissociation

§  Spiritual experiences

§  Biochemical (e.g. excess dopamine)

§  Paranormal experiences

§  Emotional distress

§  Physical health problems

§  Cognitive error (misattribution of ‘internal speech’)

§  Individual difference

The truth is that we do not know why people hear voices or see visions. A study published in The Lancet Psychology is the result of an online survey and in-depth analysis of people who have heard voices. What the researchers found was that there is huge variation in ways that people "hear things." For example, the stereotype of a person with schizophrenia is that they hear angry voices telling them to do terrible things — we've all seen this in countless bad movies. But many people who hear voices say that they aren't so much "voices" as they are characters, with personalities, who are trying to hold conversations. Often, they are internal voices and don't say anything aloud. It's almost as if they are exaggerated of the kinds of internal dialogues we have in our heads every day, as we debate what to do after work or whether we should really blow a bunch of money on the new MacBook.

Indeed, Durham University researcher Angela Woods, who led the study, noted that as many as 15 percent of people who report hearing voices haven't been diagnosed with any psychological disorder. She and her colleagues believe that "hearing voices" is far more complicated than anyone had ever realized — sometimes they even involve physical sensations like tingling in the hands and feet. People who hear voices say that they can be troubling, but they can also be friendly. Often, therapies can help them understand the voices as parts of themselves, cluing them into subconscious concerns.

So, it may not be the Universe, or God or a Deity calling you, but it may be someone you miss and in the depths of your mind you know misses you that you think they are talking as if you can hear them.

So don’t worry, there is not a spirit waving about its arms excitedly as it speak, it is not getting so carried away that they have ended up volunteering you for "Dancing with the Angels" by blurting your name out so loud that it broke the time-space barrier. That would be exciting, but there is probably a relatively mundane reason for this voice calling to you.

Is Time running out?

The simple answer is no, but if you think about it to much then time can keep slipping into the future. You only ever have to do what you're capable of doing, because by design, no matter how things appear, you'll always have enough time to do it, you'll do even better than you thought, and life will get even richer than you imagined.

So go out and Fly like the Eagle, as you listen to the Steve Miller Band