Celebrities Don't Age, They Youth'n® Dr. David J. Demko, gerontologist and editor, AgeVenture News Service, Boca Raton, Florida July - August 2007

Tradition paints a picture of maturity as a time for slowing down, closing doors, waiting for nature to take its course. But that was then, and this is now. There's a new kind of maturity, Youth'n®. It's not a stage of life. It's a state of mind. Like psychologist, Abe Maslow's theory of self-actualization, personal growth is perpetual, a never ending process. Past achievements represent a higher plateau for springboarding toward a symphony of new options for re-invented oneself. The new Youth'n® generation is coloring outside the lines, zig-zaging and zoooooming toward a bright new horizon chock-full of possibilities for reinventing retirement and redefining what it means to be mature. Their calling card says, "stop acting your age, and start living your life." AARP magazine (photo left) has launched a campaign to acquaint Aging America with profiles of this new Youth'n® generation. By the way, that's Kevin Costner on the AARP magazine cover. He appears to be re-inventing his "look" with that new triangular goatee beard. Kevin, America loves you, and I am a huge fan. But don't you think that goatee makes your head look like a golf ball sitting atop a golf tee? Okay, enough about the magazine cover. Boomers, it's time to determine if you are a member of this new Youth'n® generation. The answer is "yes" if you subscribe to the following six traits. Traits that are the characteristics of a Youth'n® state of mind. That means living with the conviction that maturity creates as many opportunities as obstacles. Are you someone who: knows the difference between primary (inevitable) and secondary (reversible) aging. performs daily exercise (aerobics for endurance, anaerobics for strength, and neurobics for brain power) calculates daily nutritional and caloric needs based on age, gender, and weight orchestrates a social support system of companions, close friends, and a confidante enjoys a positive self-concept, and a passion for living life to the fullest achieves the resources necessary to live an adventurous life thanks to sound retirement planning These traits are the foundation of a positive, pro-active life. What I like to call a Youth'n® state of mind. I believe AARP magazine is providing hard evidence in support of Youth'n® by profiling people who appear to exist in a perpetual state of self-renewal. Yes, these role models are celebrities, but aren't we all? A celebrity is a "celebrated" person. And, millions of everyday people live celebrated lives. Celebrated by the people whose lives they touch. Celebrated because of the difference they make in the world we live in. So, maybe your life doesn't get much press coverage. But still, you may very well be living a well-celebrated life. Read on and see AARP's profiles of the celebrated lives that we are all capable of living.

AARP magazine columnist, Monica Hesse writes a feature, "The Big 5-Oh" (image right) which profiles individuals who navigate life according to their own compass. Here's a partial list of the celebs readers will find in Monica's column in AARP magazine's July-August 2007 issue. The list even includes humorist, Dave ("I am not making this up") Barry, age 60 years. Scott Adams (Cartoonist) achieved age 50 years on June 8, 2007. As the creator of “Dilbert,” Scott invented a world where neckties defy gravity and a stegosaurus gives wedgies to office peons. Timothy Busfield, age 50 as of June 12, 2007, says his oily Thirtysomething character “would be very pathetic” at 50. Fifty-something, Frances McDormand, four Oscar nods and 43 films, yet we still picture her with the Fargo accent. Robert Englund, is age 60 as of June 6, 2007. What spooks Freddy Krueger? The Bad Seed. Those pigtails are creepy. June 19: Salman Rushdie. Literary prizes, a glam wife. Life’s perfect, except for that pesky fatwa. Happy 60th this June 19, 2007. Morgan Freeman is 70 this June 1st. Screen God (in two flicks) has his own production house called Revelations. June 8: Jerry Stiller hit age 80 thisJune 8. Comedian (and Ben’s dad) is just getting started: “I still haven’t hit what I do best yet.” The Big 5-Oh is a recurring column in AARP The Magazine that highlights the big birthdays of America’s favorite celebs. Pick up your copy today. Then keep an eye out for future issues to come. Lots of inspiration is coming your way, courtesy of AARP magazine. Graphic credits: AARP, Washington, DC. Column: "The Big 5-Oh" by Monica Hesse, AARP magazine. Youth'n® is a registered trademark of Demko Publishing, Boca Raton, Florida.

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