'Positive Aging' - People discovering their own fountain of youth

You wouldn't expect to see a water aerobics class taught by a 77-year-old woman.

But Marnie Hensel has been teaching a class at the Marsh in Minnetonka for 23 years.  And she's the first to tell you, she doesn't feel her age.

"I feel about 37," Hensel says with a hearty laugh.

She has no plans to slow down anytime soon.

"I'm amazed by Marnie," says 91-year-old Frances Bell, who has been taking Marnie's class for years.

Hensel's energy doesn't stop in the pool.  She won a gold medal in a downhill skiing race for seniors at age 74, despite the fact she severely broke her leg when she was 21.  She's had 63 surgeries on that leg over the years.

"This is the thing that meant the most to me," Hensel says while clutching her skiing gold medal.

Now retired from competition, Hensel is exploring a new hobby: "I like to jump out of airplanes," she says.

Hensel started skydiving two years ago.  "I think it's a hoot," she says.  "I'm probably an adrenaline junkie!"

While Hensel's story may sound extraordinary, experts say it's a sample of what's happening as 77 million baby boomers move into retirement.

"This is the largest, the healthiest, the best educated group of Americans to ever move through and beyond their 50's," says Mary Jo Kreitzer, director of the Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota.

"Over the hill" is not a term these people embrace.  Many are still climbing that hill and wondering what's next.

"There's a big desire in people in this generation to do something that will fulfill their sense of purpose," Kreitzer says.

It's a concept known as positive aging.  The U of M will host a conference on the topic this Wednesday. Speakers say the goal is help people find purpose in the second half of life.

"If you ask the average American, Why do you wake up in the morning? they'll say, To go to work," says Dan Buettner, an explorer and educator. "But this non-work sense of purpose is a very important thing to invest in."

David and Ann Buran are excellent examples of positive aging.  Now in their late 70s and well into retirement, the couple is busier than ever.

"You have a purpose," Ann says.  "You want to wake up because you've got something important to do."

Both take classes almost daily through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, which is like a college for older adults.

They're also lifelong musicians.  Ann plays the piano and David sings in the church choir.

"We've been married 54 years and music has been part of the glue," David says.  "It really has."

They've also had great challenges.  The Burans have been raising their grandsons, Kevin and Teddy, since the boys' parents died suddenly eight years ago.  The Burans are among the estimated four million grandparents now raising their grandkids, experts say.

"It was difficult at first because we suffered the loss of our daughter," David says.  "But we've really done well with them because they're great kids."

David also had surgery for prostate cancer six years ago, followed by double bypass surgery one year after that.

Marnie Hensel lost her husband, Carl, then was diagnosed with lung cancer weeks later.

Despite those obstacles, Hensel and the Burans are now healthy, cancer-free and aging positively.

"It's all about your attitude," Hensel says.  "Everything in life is how you handle it."

There's one more key piece of advice: invest in relationships.  Buettner says 15 years ago, the average American had three close relationships.  Now that number's down to two.

Hensel says strong relationships, especially with younger people, are key to her happiness.  Whenever her grandchildren turn 13, she takes them on a trip to teach them about self-esteem.

The Burans share a similar philosophy.

"I think inter-generational activities are just very important because they put you in touch with young, innocent and upcoming people," David says.

The U of M's conference on positive aging takes place this Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Coffman Memorial Union's Great Hall.  Registration costs $150 and includes a continental breakfast, lunch and other materials.

 Click here to learn more.

You must register by noon on Tuesday.

By Joe Fryer, KARE 11 News   Read Joe's Blog

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