Alice McGinty is 96 years old. She does resistance training three times a week. She travels to Costa Rican jungles. And she still shows her paintings. If that’s what aging looks like, sign us up.
Her art has actually evolved because of a challenge most people would call a career-ender. Macular degeneration narrowed her vision down to color alone, so her paintings became more vivid and abstract. She lost the details and found the boldness. That’s not a setback. That’s a remix.
But the most powerful part of her story is what she says about how society treats older people. She describes it as subtle and unspoken, a quietness. She refuses to accept it. Instead, she’s learned to trust herself, which she calls one of the greatest gifts of getting older. Not selfish, she says. Just finally becoming someone you can count on. Who in your life has taught you something about aging that changed your perspective?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.