“You don’t have to act your age. You don’t even have to feel it. And if it does attempt to elbow its way into your life, you do not have to pay attention. If I am out shopping and hear music playing in a store, I start to dance. If I want to sing, I sing. I read books and get excited about new ideas. I enjoy myself. I don’t think about the way I am supposed to act at my age – or at any age. As far as I know, there is no manual for old age. There is no test you have to pass. There is no way you have to behave. There is no such thing as ‘age appropriate.’
When people ask my secret to staying youthful at an age when getting up and down from your chair on your own is considered an accomplishment, you know what I tell them?”
‘Keep moving.’
Some people age well and others do not. My great-grandmother lived to be 100 and she had an active mind until at least 96 even if she needed a walker. My husband’s grandmother is 92 and just reluctantly gave up driving a few years ago as she can still walk around on her own and attends mass across the street from her home daily. It’s inspirational to see and I think most of us hope that if we live that long that we will be able to still enjoy life fully.
Dick Van Dyke appeared in a lot of my favorite movies as a child who watched every Sunday night Disney movie. When I saw he had a book out with his take on aging, I immediately put it on my to-read list. He wrote the book at the age of 90 (he’s turning 91 this month). I spent a few weeks on my library’s Overdive hold list for the e-book.
In Keep Moving, Dick Van Dyke gives musings about his past, present and future. The entire tone of the book is very optimistic and it seems like, even now, he is still a little bit in awe of the opportunities that came across his path in life. He talks about falling in love (again), how to deal with grief and loss and how to keep up with the times, all through personal anecdotes. In the end, though, his main tip is to keep moving in body, mind, heart and soul to keep life interesting and worthwhile.
I would recommend this book to any adult, especially those who are Dick Van Dyke fans. I think I would pick this book up again later in life as a reminder that “old” is just a word. The only parts I didn’t like were when he shared some of his political views, but he is entitled to his own opinion.