The Secrets Of Aging Gracefully

Many of us are filled with concern when we think of aging. We are filled with dread and concern, but here we are going to look at the positive things and the secrets of aging gracefully.

Old age doesn’t have to be doom and gloom. We tend to associate aging with negative things like diminished looks, a frail body, memory loss, and chronic diseases, but there is a lot we can do now to make the aging process a lot better.

The Secrets Of Aging Gracefully

One sure fact is that people differ significantly in the way that they age. Some enjoy relatively good health, physically and mentally in their later years, so why not all of us?

Nevertheless, whether confronted with health problems or not, most people want to know the secrets of aging gracefully.

Aging gracefully largely depends on our attitudes and our willingness and ability to adapt to this new phase of life.

Here are some secrets of aging gracefully that I have dug up for you.

Be Modest

This is all about recognizing and coming to terms with the limitations of your age.

Being modest, however, in no way means adopting the defeatist attitude for example, ‘I am old and there is nothing more for me.’

Such an attitude can sap you and all around you of enthusiasm. A modest person still shows wisdom and makes the best of every situation.

Corrado (77) from Italy wisely said, ‘when you drive uphill, you just change gears and avoid stalling the engine.‘ So yes adjustments will need to be made as you grow older.

Corrado and his wife have developed balanced approaches to domestic chores, following a moderately relaxed schedule to avoid feeling completely drained of energy at the end of the day.

As you grow older, you need to learn to pace yourself. Take short breaks between tasks and take some time off to lie or sit down with music or a good book in hand. Listen to your body and respect your limits.

Be Positive

As you age, you may experience negative feelings when you start to remember how much energy you had in your youth and think about all the things you used to be able to do.

Although this is understandable, make a huge effort not to become overwhelmed by these feelings. Dwelling on the past can make you depressed.

You are now older and wiser than you once were and you can still do a lot. Enjoy doing the things that you can and don’t cry over the things you can’t. Life is a cycle, and different stages of life will teach you different things. One thing to know is that you are never too old to learn something new.

Reading and learning something new will make you feel more positive, broadening your horizons. So stay alert for opportunities to learn and do new things.

Many older people find the thrill of traveling and adventure appealing, so just go out and do it.

Be Balanced

Even though your clothing and exercise routines may change as you get older, stay balanced and avoid getting into a rut. You can still look smart too in clean fresh clothes and you don’t need to look dowdy just because you are old. There are plenty of lovely fashions especially designed with the older person in mind to bring out the best in them.

Be Generous

If you have retired, you now have the precious gift of time on your hands and the opportunity to share it with others. Helping somebody or teaching somebody something new will give you a sense of accomplishment.

You could call on friends who are sick, send out gifts, or cook a meal for somebody who can’t.

When you show love to others, they respond by giving you their love and affection. A generous person creates an atmosphere of warmth and appreciation that others find enjoyable.

Be Friendly

While there are times that you may want to be alone, avoid at all costs becoming isolated and withdrawn.

Invite friends over for dinner or games. Mix with young people, as their vitality will rub off on you.

Friendly people are communicative, and since communication is a two-way street, you need to make it a point to be good company.  Show personal interest in others and listen to what they have to say. Also remember that when expressing your thoughts, take care to season your words with salt, thoughtfulness, and encouragement.

Be Thankful

When receiving help, be thankful. Show appreciation for the attention received.

Expressions of thankfulness help to cultivate good relationships. The secrets of aging gracefully include being thankful for life itself.

“A live dog is better off than a dead lion.” Words from wise King Solomon in the bible (Ecclesiastes 9:4).

With the right attitude coupled with a willingness to adapt, it is possible to age gracefully.

Here are 7 Things To Be Grateful For When Aging

1. Experience And Wisdom

With every year of age comes another year of living and learning.

That year may have brought extreme joy or tinges of sadness. Regardless, you will have gained a deeper understanding of the people that you know and love, you will have had another year of experiences, and you will be all the wiser for it.

That puts you in an excellent position to share some of that knowledge with the younger generation. You have heard the saying ‘I wish I knew then what I know now.’ Young people won’t understand this one until much later in life.

2. Deeper Friendships And  New Ones

The years have given you more time with your friends (and family) and the opportunity to get to know them better, to solidify your relationships.

Even better, you’ve had the opportunity to get to know new people and make new friends.

3. Not Worrying About What Others Think

You don’t just learn to ignore the judgments of others; you also learn not to judge others.

We tend to get so caught up in the material things in life that we often push others aside to get what we want. When others have the material things we want… we experience jealousy and annoyance at their success and happiness. Yet, as you lean into aging you start to see how unimportant those things are, and instead of judging you can accept people for who they are.

4. Self-Confidence

In your youth, you probably struggled to make big decisions, whether it was because you needed to make a list of every possible outcome or because you just hated to let people down.

As you age, you start to realize that your decisions are yours to make and you even feel confident about making them.

You have more wisdom now than you did then and you feel confident enough about it to harness its power efficiently.

5. New Found Appreciation And Understanding

When you were a kid you adored your parents and thought they could do no wrong. Then you hit an age where they start to irritate you and make your eyes roll.

It comes back around because at some point you start to realize what they are experiencing as they approach their twilight years, not to mention the fact that they made your life possible and probably put up with a lot of your nonsense throughout the years.

This provides another thing to be grateful for in aging if you have children you can rest easy knowing that they’ll go through the same realization.

6. Wrinkles Are A Badge Of Honor

You don’t need to feel a sense of grief over the wrinkles that are slowly appearing at the corner of your eyes or around your mouth. It’s a sign of a life well lived, of happiness, laughter, and joy.

One of the secrets of aging gracefully is smiling. Your wrinkles will now be laugh lines and your face will have a happy and peaceful look. On the other hand, if you scowl a lot, those lines will eventually etch their way onto your face and make you look frumpy.

A reminder of your greatest moments and even the tears you have experienced along the way. Your wrinkles are simply a testimony of the experiences that you have been through and aging is something to be proud of because you made it.

7. Another Birthday

At what age do we stop referring to birthdays as a celebration and start shrugging them off and hoping people don’t make a fuss? This isn’t because we’re suddenly too mature to celebrate the day we were born, it’s because we have been conditioned by society to see aging as a bad thing. The truth is, though, that we all age. Like death, it is one of the greatest inevitabilities of humankind.

Celebrating another year of life should be considered a joyous occasion, considering the death that often surrounds us.

Okay, so the aging process has probably provided you with a few wrinkles, a bit of weight gain, and very probably, some extra aches and pains in parts of your body you didn’t know could feel pain. Let’s not focus on those aspects of aging, instead, let’s consider the many things we can be grateful for in aging.

Please feel free to comment below if you can share any more secrets of aging gracefully.