Aging Backwards: Choosing How We Age By Nekohl Johnson

Nekohl J
Aug 11
3 min read

This year has taught me more about aging than any other season of my life.

In my recent past, I had to face something I didn’t want to admit — I am aging. I had a fear of dying, of wondering if I’d make heaven or go to hell. I was going through so much that I was even a year behind on my own age; I thought I would be 53, but I am now 54.

From 2024–2025, I’ve had the least amount of income in decades — but life has been more valuable than I can ever remember. I have exercised my life talents and abilities. In all my pain and what felt like defeat, I stepped out of my head and my house to experience nature, events, and education, all while using reasonable accommodations for my health.

I now understand more than I ever have. I have the best family circle — not all from genealogy, but from beautiful connections God placed in my path. I have the best relationships money could never buy. Time is on my side. God has been good to me. I asked, and I received answers. By His grace, I am here.

To my wellness contributors in the community and in my personal space — I deeply love and appreciate you all, and especially Brother & Lulu 😉; who taught me how to crawl, walk, run.

We Can’t Choose When We Age — But We Can Choose How We Age

We can’t choose when we age — time will always move forward. Birthdays will come and go. Hair will turn silver, skin will change, and our bodies will send us new messages about how we’ve been living. But here’s the truth: we can choose how we age.

Aging backwards isn’t about pretending time doesn’t exist. It’s about taking intentional steps that keep our minds sharp, our bodies strong, and our spirits light — so that every year we gain life, not lose it.

The Myth of “Inevitable Decline”

For too long, society sold us the idea that aging automatically means slowing down, shrinking back, and giving up the things we love. But research, wellness science, and lived experience show something different:

Move: Movement keeps muscles and joints youthful.
Eat: Nutrition fuels our cells like a well-tuned engine.
Engage: Mental engagement builds a brain that resists decline.
Be Sociable: Connection extends life and deepens joy.

The secret isn’t in stopping time — it’s in reversing the effects that time tries to leave behind.

Power Aging: The Art of Aging Backwards

Power aging means living so well that your biological age stays younger than your chronological one. It’s…

BE WHOLE: Choosing prevention over reaction through all dimensions of wellness.
BE HEALTHY: Strengthening your immune system before it’s tested.
FIND YOUR PURPOSE: Investing in joy, relationships, and purpose as much as in finances.

When you live this way, you stop measuring life in years and start measuring it in quality.

Your Aging Backwards Toolkit

You don’t need futuristic medicine to start — though science is giving us amazing tools like vaccines that target age-related diseases. You can begin right now:

Move daily – walking, dancing, stretching, strength training.
Fuel well – foods that fight inflammation, hydrate you, and energize you.
Engage your mind – read, learn, challenge yourself.
Connect deeply – develop a relationship with yourself, then those like you. You must know who you are first; relationships are as vital as vitamins.
Protect your health – regular check-ups and proactive care.

Closing Thoughts

You can’t control when you age. But you can absolutely control how you age. Every choice is a deposit into your future vitality — and every small, consistent habit can be the difference between “growing old” and “growing bold.”

If time is going to pass anyway, why not make it work in your favor?

By God’s grace,

The Infinite Nekohl Johnson