The Benefits of Aging
We all worry about getting old. We worry about losing our minds when old. The question is: Does age make our brains go on an inevitable slide?
It is true that seniority comes with its challenges. It is just like other phases of life. Negative stereotypes on aging run rampant in our society. However, the difficult aspects of growing old should not be allowed to overshadow all the wonderful aspects. Perhaps, it is time to focus on the benefits and advantages of living a long and happy life.
Among the many advantages of growing old is having the time to spend with families and loved ones. Grandparents get to experience the joys of children without having to spend sleepless nights. This love benefits the grandchildren as it brings an emotional bondage between them.
Some look at retirement as becoming a burden on the family or society. But retirement allows one to follow some of his passions that he had put on hold for a long time. Retired seniors may volunteer their services for social services such as providing free education to poor children unable to attend school. Such social services bring great benefits to society.
Age allows people to set clearer priorities. Older adults perceive time in a way that makes them realize the limited time they have left in the world. This results in them having a tighter circle of friends and closer relationship with loved ones. They let go of the trivial matters and focus on the important issues of life. Not just that, but older people tend to look at things from a wiser perspective. Older people have multiple solutions to problems. Age does bring bring with it a plethora of experiences. This may be because with age people develop multitude of brain maps that help recognize and respond to similar situations that may have taken place earlier in their lives. Also, with age, anger declines and stress falls off a cliff.
Age allows you to become your own best friend. It allows you not to get angry for not tidying up your room. It has allowed you to see many good friends leave too early before they could understand the freedom that comes with old age. It allows you to overlook the pitying looks of onlookers over your bloated body. It allows you to sing along heartily to songs of the 50’s. It allows you to forget some parts of life that should be forgotten.
Those who have grown old have been blessed with enough years for their hair to gray and for the laughter of youth to become deeps lines on their face. Many never get to laugh that much. Many never get to turn gray.
A person with age is a free person. He loves to see his face in the mirror. He is content. He is truly blessed!
