Today, I rushed out of my office to pick up a gift for my wife Ann’s birthday tomorrow. Ann is 53 years old, looks fantastic, and has seemingly boundless energy. She works full-time in her private Hand Therapy practice and exercises 5-6 days a week. She is vibrant and young in mind and in form.

And yet, in recent weeks (make that months), she has been bemoaning the aging process: the aches and pains and facial creases (wrinkles) that weren’t present in her twenties and thirties.

But many of my patients actually defy the affects of aging, or so it seems.

Earlier today, I saw Mr. G., a 94 year old retired economist who is constantly on the go. The day after February’s 20-inch snowfall, Mr. G. marched into our office for his appointment, cane in hand. While patients one-third his age were calling to cancel because of the weather, Mr. G. wouldn’t think of letting a little snow get in the way of his appointment. Now that spring has arrived, he’s looking forward to another summer at his lake house in Hungary, where he will swim every single day!

Then there’s Mrs. T. 96 years old and she still goes to the office at least three times every week and travels to Israel regularly. And of course, let me not forget Miss E., who turns 98 this month and is still full of ” piss and vinegar.” With a gleam in her eyes, she never hesitates to tell you what’s on her mind.

Aging is a part of life and whether you’re 53 or 103, time passes in the blink of an eye. We all want to get older, we just don’t want to be old. And so I say to you, my dear wife, and anyone else feeling the advance of years:

Accept, dare I say celebrate, where you are today. Because with a little luck you have decades of living ahead of you and when you reach the age of 83, you’ll remember how good you looked and felt at the age of 53.

Happy Birthday Ann. You are my energized bunny and with a little bit of luck you’ll keep going and going…well into your nineties likes as are Mr. G., Mrs. T., and Miss E.!