Joan Trout is 80. She has three children, 10 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Ten years ago, she gave up skiing and rollerblading but still makes it to the beach to swim as often as she can.

We asked her, and three others, to tell us what it means to grow older. Here’s what she had to say. 

I always say I’m old. People find fault with me for that. My friend at the pool corrects me, “No, we’re older.

”I’m old. That’s what I am. 80 is old.

To me, getting older means getting closer to the end of my life. Or getting closer to heaven, let’s put it that way.

I almost think of myself at the top of the totem pole of the family. After my mom and dad died, I became the matriarch – the oldest in the family.

I get up every day and say, “Lord, what do you want me to do for you today?” Whether it’s big and small, I want to be willing.

The good part about getting older is being retired. Being retired means having more time to be involved in the community and in the church and other people’s lives. You have time to serve and be with family and friends.

You just have time, which you don’t have when you’re working.

I love to swim. I love to serve. That’s the highlight of my day.

I get up every day and say, “Lord, what do you want me to do for you today?” Whether it’s big and small, I want to be willing.

My philosophy comes from an old song:

“If I can help somebody in the world today,

If I can teach somebody’s my Master’s way,

Then my living is not in vain.”

That’s a paraphrase of the song. But that’s what I like to say. It’s how I live my life.

I’m content with 80 years. That’s a long, long time. If I live another 10, that’s great too.

I always pray, “Lord, keep me healthy or take me home.” I want to be healthy to serve him. If I no longer am able to do that, I’d just rather be with him.

If the Lord keeps me here, I’d like to have some quality of life. I don’t want to be just alive. Alive isn’t enough. I want to serve.

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