This morning, as well as a few during the last couple of weeks, I have awakened with the thought of my upcoming birthday. Seventy, did someone say I will be seventy this year? In so many ways, I feel like celebrating and in others, I could let this one silently pass. Wasn’t I just 40 or 50? Where did eight grandchildren come from? Maybe, they keep me young. My wonderful husband has a lot to do with my happy being and I like having him as one of my reasons to be young. I still work, and love my work but shouldn’t I be retired or not? I am writing on my third novel and am loving the story behind it. Is it my creativity keeping me young at heart? I have become a soul seeking peace and am more contented with all that God has given and not missing what others have. Well, as my usual positive self, I will assemble a list of reasons why I should celebrate and not deflate. Here is an article I found which points out the Best Things About Growing Old:
Best Things About Growing Old
Here’s a list of 10 great aspects of aging — from the financial perks that come with turning 65, to the personal insights that come with decades of experience:
1. A Happier Outlook
It may surprise some, but studies show that seniors are among the happiest groups of people, and that they are significantly more happy than their middle-aged counterparts.
The author of a study on the subject, Dr. Saverio Stranges, says, “This could be due to better coping abilities. Older people tend to have internal mechanisms to deal better with hardship or negative circumstances than those who are younger.” Another reason seniors may also be happier is because age means that they are “more comfortable being themselves.”
2. Grandchildren
American writer Gore Vidal once joked, “Never have children, only grandchildren.” Grandparents often get to experience the joys of little children without the diaper changes and sleepless nights. Grandparents love their grandchildren, and this love lightens their own heart while simultaneously benefiting the grandchildren who receive this love.
Dr. Karl Pillemer. who studies aging and intergenerational relationships, is a firm believer in the importance of the relationship between children and their grandparents. He notes that, “Research shows children need four to six involved, caring adults in their lives to fully develop emotionally and socially” and that “the grandparent/grandchild relationship is second in emotional importance only to the parent/child relationship.”
3. More Time for Loved Ones
Retirement isn’t inherently joyful or relaxing — it’s how that time is used that makes it special.
One of the best parts of retirement is spending time with family, friends and other loved ones.
4. Opportunity to Pursue Your Dreams
Victorian novelist George Elliot wrote, “It’s never too late to be what you might have become.” The time gained during retirement is an excellent opportunity to pursue dreams and passions that you might have put on hold.
For instance, you can learn a new language, take that trip you’ve always dreamed of, or write the novel in your head that’s been waiting to get out.
5. Participation in Civics and Volunteering
Growing old provides a sense of broader perspective, and it often makes people inclined to focus much of their efforts and energy towards bettering society and creating a better world for future generations.
In addition to spending time with loved ones and pursuing passions and personal dreams, retired seniors have more time to be civically and politically involved, and they do just that.
For example, people over aged 65 vote at a higher rate than any other age group according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. They also volunteer at a high rate. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that one in four U.S. seniors 65+ actively volunteered during 2015.
6. Wisdom
A Smithsonian Magazinearticle described a number of recent studies demonstrating the emotional and intellectual benefits of aging. One study described in the article showed that seniors have better control over their emotions than other age groups. Researchers had participants of all ages play a gambling game “designed to induce regret” and found “unlike 20-somethings, those in their 60s didn’t agonize over losing, and they were less likely to try to redeem their loss by later taking big risks.”
To read some great advice from America’s wisest, see our blog post, “Priceless Advice from Older Americans.”
7. Better Social Skills and More Empathy
Another study described in the aforementioned article asked participants to give advice to hypothetical authors of “Dear Abby” letters. The findings indicated that seniors have have superior empathetic and social abilities. The study said:
“Subjects in their 60s were better than younger ones at imagining different points of view, thinking of multiple resolutions and suggesting compromises.”
While seniors may have acquired better social skills than their younger peers, they can be vulnerable to isolation. Read our blog about helping seniors avoid social isolation to make sure that these skills have a chance to shine.
8. Guaranteed Minimum Income, Medicare and Social Security
In an article about the history of aging, we discussed how, before the 20th century, seniors without the means to support themselves were forced to move into what were referred to as “poorhouses” or “workhouses.” This was the lot of seniors who were not independently wealthy or who did not have family members who could take care of them.
While poverty is still a big problem among seniors, safety-net programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security mean that American seniors should have a guaranteed minimum income and health insurance even if they aren’t wealthy and don’t have children who can support them.
President Franklin Roosevelt in 1935 described the importance of Social Security and similar safety-net programs that he helped to enact, “We can never insure one-hundred percent of the population against one-hundred percent of the hazards and vicissitudes of life. But we have tried to frame a law which will give some measure of protection to the average citizen and to his family against the loss of a job and against poverty-ridden old age.”
9. Senior Discounts
As trivial as senior discounts may seem, there must have been a time you envied them. 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.
There are even websites like SeniorDiscounts.com which exist to help seniors locate businesses that offer senior discounts.
10. Sense of Accomplishment
Older people often have a healthy sense of pride that comes from their accomplishments. These accomplishments needn’t be great feats.
John Lennon’s lyric, “A working class hero is something to be,” puts it well. Seemingly ordinary achievements like raising a healthy and happy child, being happily married, serving in defense of the nation, or retiring from a job in good-standing after years of dedicated service, can be the foundation of a pleasant contentment in old age.
What is your favorite thing about growing old? We’d like to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Related Articles:
- Older Americans Month
- Priceless Advice from Older Americans
- Tips to Better Understand Your Aging Parents
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Note from Arline Miller, blogger and author about My Feelings About Getting Older: I do feel older but not OLD. I find that the busier I keep my mind the younger I feel. No, I don’t know a lot of the questions on Jeopardy but by watching I have learned more than I used to know. Google is my friend and I don’t hesitate to research something I am interested or at least curious. I think curiosity is a good thing and maybe that is why a cat seems to have 9 lives. If we stay young in our minds, our bodies get deceived and we keep going. I am not going to be on youtube as an acrobatic 90 year old and I don’t try to look 20 in makeup or clothes, BUT what I do is try to live life to MY fullest. I rest when I need to rest: I go when I need to go: I laugh because I like to laugh; and yes, I cry when I need to cry to release any hurt or loss because I loved and will continue to love. I feel songs and sad stories but I don’t allow sadness to be bigger than gladness.
(C) Copyright 2012-2019 Arline Miller of Sipping Cups of Inspiration with all rights and privileges reserved. Third party material, if source is known, is referenced to original location for credit reference.
This was great to reead