I spend my life, and have for coming up on 20 years, working with older adults. It is an absolute truth that we are all aging, from the moment we draw our first breath to the moment we take our last.

But I have come to believe that, while aging is inevitable, old age is not. Sounds like a contradiction, I know, but defining ourselves as “old” carries with it a lot of messages and a lot of weight, both internally and externally.

The way that we have defined “old age” in our culture is not as another valued part of life. Instead, it is a way of indicating that someone is no longer useful, can no longer contribute or make a difference.

While we cannot stop the aging process, we can choose how we respond to it. We can stay active, we can remain curious, we can continue to grow. We can squeeze every drop out of every day that we are given.

Of course, health issues may multiply as our bodies age. But, there too, we have the opportunity to decide how we handle these challenges. Do we face them head on? Do we fight to live fully for as long as we can? Or do we let a diagnosis define us and allow it to control and diminish our quality of life?

“Do not go gentle into that good night. Old age should burn and rave at close of day. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” Those words, penned by Dylan Thomas should be more than just beautiful phrases. They should be the battle cry for every older adult.

Don’t give in or give up. Don’t let the world limit you and don’t limit yourself. Hold onto your full heart, hold onto your sense of self, hold tight to your ability to determine both your present and your future.