Remember the fast cars and soda fountains, but don't miss today's experiences

A recent Facebook post bragged: “People born in the '50s have lived 8 decades, 2 millennia. We had the best music, the fastest cars, drive-in movies, soda fountains and happy days. And we are not even that old yet; we’re just that cool.”

It’s shocking but true. And some of us get to add another decade because we were born in the 1940s.

Do you think everyone believes they were born in the best of times, had the best music, best cars and best entertainment with happy days included? But who could be luckier than to have Elvis, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, the Eagles, Motown, Whitney Houston, et al.?

Who can beat my high school car: a 1963 cherry-red Chevy Impala hard top, 327 horsepower — four on the floor, rolled and pleated white leather interior with glass packs for the rumble?

Yes, we had drive-in movies and soda fountains, and we’ve been around for the first McDonalds and the first man stepping on the moon. Oh, and we dragged Main Street and bought gas for 25 cents a gallon.

It’s been a great ride, and yes, we are cool. We are the Boomers.

But all that we remember so clearly — and cherish — is history.

And the truth is, it was far from perfect. People were dying of diseases easily cured by antibiotics and vaccines today. There were wars, depressions, riots, political mayhem and all the same stuff we have today.

I remember the nightmares I had of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima or the threat of polio. Oh, and by the way, I wrecked the red Impala and got a ticket for careless driving when I was a senior.

So we Boomers need to limit the nostalgia and embrace today as the best season of life.

We’re not cool because of the past; we’re cool because we embrace the future. We can’t criticize the current trends and act superior to younger people. Our parents blasted our music, cars, and entertainment, too.

There seems to be a point in life where it is easier to look back than to look to the future. When we were kids, we couldn’t wait to grow up. It was all about the future with the expectation of great adventure. My husband always says, “The good old days are today!”

We have much to be excited about and thankful for, especially the younger generations. Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z are all cool. They are your kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. I understand the alphabet soup has started over with Gen A — for Alpha — for those born after 2012.

I really do like to wax nostalgic at times. The Facebook post was fun. But as an author who focuses on successful aging, I know it is not healthy or cool to live in the past. It is also not attractive to the generations that follow us.

If we want to have influence and input on younger generations, we must focus on how cool they are — yes, even their music.

Find Connie’s book, “Daily Cures: Wisdom for Healthy Aging,” at www.justnowoldenough.com.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Treasure lifetime of memories, but don't forward to move forward, too