Five Benefits of Aging

If aging scares you, you’re not alone. If aging frustrates you, you are not alone. If you dread aging—again, you are not alone. But, you may be a minority. As it turns out, attitudes about aging are shifting, and for good reason. It’s true, for most of us, the senior years bring a lot of change, and some of that change is not what we want or enjoy. But that doesn’t mean that aging can’t bring us a new lease on life and there are ample reasons why:

  • Free Time. Or rather, more control over your time. For many, retirement doesn’t mean slowing down. In fact, you may be busier than you were during your career and your younger family years, but as a senior, you get to choose how you spend your time and that is something that most folks only dream of being able to do.
  • WisdomStudies have shown that people are happiest in their youth and again in their 70s and 80s. Why?  Much of this happiness is attributed to social and emotional wisdom—the kind of thing that only comes with age.
  • Experience.  Again, one of the boons of aging is a wealth of life and intellectual experience that, in many ways, can make us sharper and better equipped for certain activities.
  • Five Benefits of AgingStronger Relationships—particularly with your mate. You’ve probably been through a lot together and have learned how to show greater affection for one another. These qualities help to maintain and deepen relationships long into our senior years.
  • Freedom from Certain Health Problems. If you’ve suffered from migraines in your life, you should have less in your senior years. Anyone who has experienced those knows that’s a blessing. You’ll probably also face far less trouble sleeping. We know how many benefits that can bring!

We understand that aging can bring heartbreak and a sense of lost independence, but when you look at it from the perspective of these benefits, it’s easier to realize that you also possess critical tools for navigating those changes. It can be really empowering, when you think about it. So, the next time you feel discouraged or frustrated—try to take time to look at what you have and how it can bring you a fresh perspective and unveil new aspects to your life:

Get out there and challenge someone to that chess match you never had time to play.

Take time to sharehat you know with younger loved ones in your life.

Relish that peaceful sleep and think about all the things you can do now that you feel better rested and less stressed.

Talk about what makes you happy and think about new activities that will bring you joy—then go do them!

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