Why Age?

Young in spirit, young in body

“Keep true to the dreams of thy youth”

Herman Melville 1819-1891

A tiny clipping of the above quote was found glued to the inside of the desk on which the Moby Dick author wrote his final work. The unfinished draft of Billy Budd, Sailor sat atop it, and was dutifully packed away by his widow, to be rediscovered and published in 1924.

This discovery helped ensure Melville’s literary immortality; the adage he treasured helps us kindle the spark of our own youthful passions and in turn keeps us young.

How many of you know some amazing elderly person who defies ageing as they indulge in ballroom dancing, bushwalking or even marathon running, like the oldest finisher ever in the notoriously tough Hawaiian Iron Man?

In 2005 Robert McKeague, holding his granddaughter Kayla’s hand, crossed the finish line to the roar of the crowd, loud rock music, native Hawaiian hula dancing and drumming, and PA announcer Mike Reilly’s homage:

“You, Robert McKeague, are an Iron Man!“

He had endured a 2.4 mile ocean swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a gruelling 26.2 mile run in intense heat through the forbidding lava beds of Hawaii’s Big Island. His time of 16:21:55 came inside the 17-hour cut-off, and though he finished in the dark after most competitors, he made it home before midnight to ensure his record went into the books.

The previous oldest-finisher record had been held since 1994 by 77 year-old Jim Ward, who finished in 16:48.

Robert McKeague was 80 years of age in 2005.

He racked up four finishes in this event that probes the edges of human endurance. He only took up endurance training at age 57 in order to keep up while skiing with his five children.

Equally (or perhaps more) impressive in 2005 was the effort of Sister Madonna Buder who became the oldest female finisher at 76 years of age, in a time of 15:54:16.

The oldest starter in the race was Norton Davey, aged 84.

Marathons or memories?

I’m not advocating we all take to our heels and run like Phidippides of Athens, who bolted from Marathon to Sparta then back to his mother city to recruit help against the invading Persians. After all, he dropped dead after his 280-mile dash. Rather, I am advocating that everybody finds something that absorbs them, whether physically or mentally, and makes time to indulge in it with passion.

It will keep you young.

Like Herman Melville, our youthful interests are the key to that passion. It may be that you have always enjoyed painting, petanque, or even the daily crossword. Search your mental diary and identify something you make time for that you have always loved. Come up empty? Then reset your mental diary and rekindle a youthful dream. Did you want to dance or sing upon a stage, or simply have the best stamp collection amongst your friends?

It’s never too late, and while your arias may not soar to the ceiling of the Sydney Opera House, blowing the rust of your vocal chords and running a few scales at home or joining a local music group qualifies as a youthful passion that, rekindled, will keep your spirit, mind and body young.

I recently ran into a former employer whose infectious enthusiasm at age 60 struck me as the perfect example of Melville’s mantra. Darryl (name changed) was a nightclub entrepreneur with a passion for soul and R&B music 20 years ago when I guarded the door of his establishments. When we reconnected at a nostalgia fair, he was jumping out of his skin with enthusiasm for his latest rock and roll venture. I emailed him later to provide my contact details and to rave about the pile of dead stock rhythm and blues I picked up that day.

I also passed on the name of the record shop whose stall I had plundered so successfully. He replied that he would be sure to visit it but mentioned his tastes had moved on from the classics to embrace contemporary artists whose names a purist like me had not even heard of!

Sing, nightingale, sing

Project Nightingale is a joint initiative of Smart Internet CRC, National ICT and Sydney University whose research over 18 months between October 2003 and March 2005 explored the needs of Australia’s ageing population and came up with a novel hi-tech solution to harness the therapeutic power of reminiscence.

The recall, sharing and reviewing of memories through photos, family journals, scrapbooks and personal objects is a tool that enhances the social, intellectual, and even physical health of the elderly.

Gerontological research has shown the benefits of reminiscence. These include: improved self-image; intergenerational understanding; and increased social interaction. Exploring one’s memories with others helps one find meaning and purpose in life, and leads to a better coping with grief and loss. To revisit the pathways of youth in tandem with others boosts well-being and gives a heightened sense of security and personal competence.

Whether you achieve this with a digital-physical scrapbook like the one developed in Project Nightingale or by dusting off the old photo albums and sitting around with the children and/or grandchildren, you tap into a powerful stimulant for mental and physical health. They will benefit, too.

Turn off the TV and write a family member a letter or email. Drag out that box of 70s slides and host a slide night for the family. They will groan loudly before and during the event, but not afterwards. They will want to know when you will be doing it again.

Like the elders of tribal societies who keep youngsters spellbound around the fire with tales from the past, you are the custodian of memories that deserve to be shared, memories that benefit you and everybody else who shares them.

I promise not to complain if I hear you warbling in the shower.

I do it too.