Am I a cranky, crabby, crusty, crotchety curmudgeon?
Let’s add “cantankerous” to that list while we’re at it. And, yes, I know that’s how many Americans describe people 60 and older. But, it’s just not my experience. There’s ample evidence showing that our EQ grows with age as does our emotional moderation and ability to empathize.
And, then there’s this recent study featuring the work of an MEA friend, Dr. Laura Carstensen, that shows that older folks have coped with the pandemic better than younger, which is notable considering those over 60 were more at a health risk. One more piece of evidence that age and emotional well-being seem to be correlated.
In other words, most of us (me included) are not cranky, crabby, crusty, crotchety (or cantankerous).
In fact, I’ll say we’re cool, calm, collected, creative, and courageous. We’re not bawling codgers, but wise and Jolly Rogers.
