For acclaimed poet Nikki Giovanni, age was just a number until a candid moment of self-awareness shifted her perspective. Even after facing a lung cancer diagnosis years prior, Giovanni, at 58, still considered herself vibrant and youthful. This self-perception was put to the test during a late-night road trip to a birthday celebration for Toni Morrison. Driving her sports car towards Princeton, New Jersey, accompanied by a friend, Giovanni felt every bit the “hip, young babe” despite her health history. However, an unexpected encounter with a state trooper in Pennsylvania would bring about a humorous yet profound realization about aging and self-image, a realization that came after navigating life post-cancer diagnosis.
Lost and directionally challenged, Giovanni was pulled over for swerving. What followed was not a typical traffic stop. The state trooper, upon approaching the car and shining his flashlight inside, paused. His demeanor instantly changed. Addressing Giovanni as “ma’am” with exaggerated politeness, he inquired about their destination. Giovanni, expecting a ticket, reached for her license. Instead, the trooper waved it off, offering directions to Princeton and a gentle admonishment to get coffee and drive safely. He then sent them on their way.
The interaction left Giovanni and her friend in stunned silence. “We’re old!” Giovanni exclaimed to her friend, realizing the trooper’s perception was vastly different from their own self-image. Had they been younger, Giovanni reasoned, a ticket would have been inevitable. The trooper hadn’t seen two “hip, young women”; he saw someone resembling his grandmother. This moment of recognition, while initially “depressing,” became a pivotal point for Giovanni in embracing her age, especially in the years following her lung cancer diagnosis.
Sharing the anecdote with Toni Morrison at the birthday party the next day, Giovanni confessed, “Girl, I’m getting old.” Morrison’s straightforward agreement, “Yes. You are,” was not dismissive but affirming. This exchange spurred Giovanni to actively embrace this new phase of life. She began prioritizing self-care through regular exercise and even joined AARP, readily asking for senior discounts. Her voicemail message humorously declared, “I am a little old lady, so please speak slowly,” fully accepting her age with grace and humor after her health journey with cancer.
Now at 64, Nikki Giovanni reflects on aging with newfound joy and liberation. Her cancer diagnosis became a part of her journey, but not her defining characteristic. She appreciates her age and career more than ever, free from the pressures of external validation. “I’ve got nothing to prove, and I don’t care what the critics say,” she states. Writing has become more enjoyable; she savors the accomplishment of each book without rushing to the next.
Giovanni emphasizes the importance of embracing change at every stage of life. Resisting transition prevents one from fully enjoying the present. By accepting change, individuals can discover new perspectives and opportunities, leveraging past experiences from a new vantage point. For Nikki Giovanni, this acceptance has been liberating. She now pursues projects out of genuine desire, believing that “the best is yet to come,” a sentiment enriched by her experiences navigating life, including her cancer diagnosis, with resilience and grace.
