Happy Elderly People

More and more I hear negativity in reference to the process of getting older. We do it without thinking. Our knee cracks and automatically it’s a sign we’re getting old. We forget something and we pass it off on aging. My twenty-two year old son says his back problems are due to the fact he’s older now. Women, most often, refuse to give their age. It seems as though we’ve already decided that as soon as we reach our senior years we are going to be miserable. What ever happened to growing old gracefully? Quite honestly, we are all going to age; there is no preventing it. That leaves us with two options: to be happy seniors or be miserable, complaining, and uneventful individuals who are aged. It’s really up to us and quite honestly if we ache at twenty two then we are already prepared for the pains that go with aging.

The first rule of thumb is that happiness is simply a state of mind; not a set of circumstances. Too often people search for it in outside sources such as loved ones. Happiness comes from within. Happiness happens at the moment. It’s spontaneous. No one plans to be happy. Yet, we can make an event of making ourselves quite miserable. Everyone needs to put their concerns to rest at some point of each day, maybe several times a day, and relax. When life appears to be negative or we feel trapped in anxiousness we need to learn to replace those feelings. We can often achieve this by distraction. Actually many seniors have developed this skill quite well. They’ve taken up hobbies, made new friends, or gone to a place of socialization such as a club. Some may even volunteer.

Many people tend to feel isolated as they age. However, there are many conveniences to seniors nowadays that weren’t available years ago. For those who are mobile there are many clubs and organizations which provide several activities specifically for seniors; the YWCA is one such organization. For those who are more restricted, adult day care programs are always a good option. They provide a social, educational, and recreational atmosphere in a warm and caring environment. For seniors residing in independent or assisted living communities there is a spectacular array of programs and activities available. Churches often provide activities to compliment their aging congregation as well.

I don’t think being active is something you develop as you get older. Logically in younger years most people are busy with work and families; therefore it is less often that free time is available. As we age, children become adults, we retire and responsibility is greatly decreased. This is the time of our lives when we should feel rewarded for the many years we have dedicated to employers and loved ones. Our lives should offer us a more relaxed lifestyle and pampered moments. We have now become the “Grand” of parents. Thus, our lives should replicate a complimentary stance.