Almost every day we get small reminders that we are growing a little older. Perhaps an age spot or another wrinkle; it is easy to moan about getting old, trying to make excuses saying: “Age is only a number” or “I’m 60 going on 45. But, what is it about aging that makes us panic so much? Are we frightened of looking and feeling old because it reminds us that we’re mortal?
What’s so great about being young anyway? Growing old has been synonymous with bodily decay since ancient times. The Greeks had a particularly dire view – many saw aging itself as a disease. Yet the latest scientific research suggests aging isn’t a straightforward decline after all
There are advantages to getting older: the obvious one of people getting up for you on trains and give you a hand getting on and off them, although I think that’s the least one expects. Here are 10 Tips for Getting Over Getting Older
OLD AIN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE
We’re the luckiest generation that’s ever lived. It’s not simply that we tend to keep our health longer; it’s that we also aren’t subject to generational restrictions on behavior, career choices, or clothing.
YOU CAN LOSE YOUR MEMORY
There are some advantages to losing your memory. You forget all the plots of the favorite films and marvel at their surprising endings.
YOU GET MORE CONFIDENT AND WISER WITH AGE
Confidence is a trait that all people desire. Confidence will open doors that were previously closed. When properly mixed with a humble spirit, confidence will lead directly to true purpose. Most people get wiser with age. Age does at least mean that we are not quite the fools we used to be. There is something to the idea that (many) people mellow with age. Studies suggest that people in their later decades have an easier time regulating their emotions, particularly anger. Simple experience teaches us so much. Plus, the fun thing about getting older is finding younger people to mentor. In our later years, a deeper patience often settles in. Having seen so much of life at that point, our youthful idealism might wear differently these days, but it doesn’t necessarily change our enthusiasm or drive.
LOW EXPECTATIONS
People don’t expect much of you when you’re old, and you get quite a lot of kudos if you do show you’re still up for anything even remotely active. Plus, If you expect your life to be a static continuum of the same activities and ventures, the same routines, and figures with equal to increasing gratification, you’ll very likely be disappointed.
HIGH STABILITY
Life will always be uncertain just by its nature, but hopefully as we move into middle age, our lives have reached a level of reasonable stability. As if the pilot just announced above 30,000 feet, “You are free to move about the cabin.” Financial/Career/Family stability are essential goals to strive for, and hopefully, by this point, they are becoming reality.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
George Elliot once wrote, “It’s never too late to be what you might have become.” Getting older also means that you have an excellent opportunity to pursue dreams and passions that you might have put on hold. For instance, take that trip you’ve always dreamed of, or write the novel in your head that’s been waiting to get out. If you’re willing to trust your own life as an exploration through varying phases, interests and redirects, you’ll find that your later decades hold as much (if not more) capacity for depth, joy and enrichment as your younger years.
DISCOUNTS, PLEASE!
The discounts offered to seniors can help people save money in a period when income tends to be fixed and limited. These discounts also provide a great incentive for seniors to make the most of their retirement, for the discounts are often for the exact types of services that help seniors stay engaged and active, such as dining, medication, entertainment, and transportation.
A BETTER PERSPECTIVE
With age, you can gain the unprecedented gift of the bigger perspective—on your own life and more. Some people call it making peace with one’s life—moving through the last years and decades with a maturity to accept life on life’s terms but to still find your way through it with more gratitude and gratefulness.
BETTER SEX
Several studies have shown that older people have more – and better – sex than you might think. A study of the sexual activity and satisfaction of women in their 80s found that half still had orgasms ‘always’ or ‘most of the time’ during sex. Other studies have reached similarly striking conclusions – a survey of people over the age of 60 found that 74% of men and 70% of women reported a greater sexual satisfaction than when they were in their 40s.
YOU CAN DELIGHT IN GRANDCHILDREN
The relationship most of us have with our grandchildren is completely different to that which we had with our own children. We have more time for a start and we don’t feel as much responsibility. Grandchildren are the reward you get for not killing your children!
