Skip the Rocking Chairs for These Rock Stars of Aging

Harlene Goodrich, 80, and Dorothy Kelly, 91, are in agreement on the fundamentals of aging well, which include organizing and reorganizing circles of supportive friends, active participation in political and non-political groups, maintaining physical activity, finding outlets for creative expression, and remaining emotionally active, reports Kaiser Health News . Former schoolteacher and Californian Goodrich continues to meet regularly with her fellow retired teacher friends, and she says humor is essential to coping with aging. "Humor is an important thing when you reach the point in your life when every week contains at least one doctor's appointment," she notes. Goodrich and Kelly concur that a fundamental to aging well is to positively begin the process when you are still youthful by staying engaged with people and with stimulating activities. Goodrich has sustained her interest in exploring the world, an activity she enjoyed with her second husband, even after his passing. Denver, Colo., author and counselor Neil Rosenthal credits a sense of wonder as key to Goodrich and Kelly's drive to continue achieving great things in their 80s and 90s. "If you don't do these kinds of things, you will grow old; and if you do do these things, you will still grow old — but much more slowly," he says.