Tito II Pontilan

Later Life Renewal and Active Living

Decline and deterioration have, for far too long, been what people equate aging with, especially when coupled with the term “retirement”. A growing body of research suggests, however, that such a narrative need not be adopted. Embracing healthy holistic choices, such as engaging in regular stretching exercises can lead to an active redefinition of what it means to grow old. “We [can] choose the stories by which we live, and age,” asserts an article in the Generations Journal of the American Society on Aging. This powerful statement reminds us that inevitable loss need not be the defining characteristic of aging. Seeing it as an opportunity for active living and renewal can also be the paradigm of one’s later life.