Growing old doesn't have to bring discomfort and disability, studies show. It is true as we enter middle age and beyond, there's certainly going to be some changes that occur with getting older; we certainly experience a number of major life changes, including retirement, kids leaving home, and physical changes, but it doesn't have to mean you're not going to feel good anymore. How we handle and grow from these changes is the key to staying healthy.
As I get older I seem to be better at controlling my emotions, better at accepting misfortune and less prone to anger. In other words, I seem to get happier as I grow older.
Don't dread aging. Getting older has its benefits:
-You no longer worry what others think. "You can't please all the people all the time.
-"Growing old is great - when you consider the alternative", as the saying goes.
-The many discounts that are available to seniors.
-Older people grow better at living for the present, studies have shown.
Of course everyone has different ways of experiencing happiness and joy, but if you're not sure where to get started, here are some ways you can make yourself even happier as you age:
1. Embrace age. Recognize and accept the aging process and all that goes with it as a necessary part of the human condition; it happens to us all. One of the best ways to embrace aging is to do what you love.
2. Learn something new every single day (i.e. a foreign language, a new game, try out a new cooking recipe).
3. Find new things you enjoy. Try some new activities to keep your interest alive. If age prevents you from engaging in the activities you've enjoyed in the past, find a new one.
4. Spend time with friends and family. Feeling connected no doubt can increase our contentment with our lives. Even if you are not close by, call or email frequently to keep relationships fresh.
5. Stay fit - Stay physically active. It doesn't mean you have to "live" at the gym. Even taking walks or doing balancing exercises can help. In fact, walking is one of the best ways to stay fit. It's never too late to start! No matter how old you are, keeping your body in motion has enormous benefits that will help you boost your mood, stay active, sharpen your memory, and give you energy.
Mild activities such as walking, stretching activities such as Yoga or anything to keep moving can improve your flexibility (as our muscles tend to stiffen when we are not active), strength and balance.
(A new Harvard study found that adding light exercises to your routine can make you over 25 percent less likely to become disabled.)
5. Laugh. Laugh. Laugh. Laughter is the best medicine for both the body and the mind. It helps you stay balanced, energetic, and healthy (at any age).
6. Wear brightly-colored clothes you associate with happiness.
7. Enjoy Life's Little Pleasures.
Bottom line: "One doesn't stop smiling as one grows old; one grows old by losing the talent to appreciate humor."
Hope you have a great weekend! xx
P.S. I'm not ashamed to admit that I used to be afraid of growing old...not anymore. Over the years, I have come to realize that age is really just a number, and that it's how you look at things that really matter the most.
(Photo via Pinterest.)
The Aging Paradox: The older we get, the happier we are.