The youth-focused culture of modern society has made it hard for many of us to feel good about the aging process. For example, we commonly want others to believe we were younger than our true age. It is interesting to consider that not long ago older people feel more respected and beloved for their wisdom and contributions.

Let's take a closer look at aging in China. There has never been a better time in our nation's history to be an adult. On the one hand, average life expectancy was only 35 years before 1949, but now it increased to 71 years. On the other hand, our attitudes toward aging changed positively. Recent studies reveals that what is important is not how old we actually are, but how we are getting old. To be sure, these changes also mean that we need to make choices that ensure our good health during our life span, more than our fathers. We need to work toward a new image of aging, one that includes active, productive, vital years that are full of love, laughter and intimacy.