How do you enjoy life?
If you surf this question, Google will show you ten articles about the subject on the first page, alone. It will also show you that no less than 3 billion people are as interested to know the answer.
And you should, too, because, at this point in your life, your primordial concern should be to enjoy life – the more the better.
Here’s why…
Old age is the high time to enjoy life – the more, the better. You have had a fruitful career, you may be grayer, but wiser. You are happy and confident with yourself and the things you’ve accomplished, and the time and freedom to do all you want to do.
Evil Knievel said,
“I decided to fly through the air, and live in the sunlight and enjoy life as much as I could.”
Sadly, enjoying life is not bestowed upon retirement. To bask in the rejuvenating rays of sunlight, you must get out from under a shade – no easy task for seniors with chronic diseases and money problems. Others are so rapt up in the trivialities of life forgetting that a lot of things we worry about are nothing but mists that will disappear at the break of dawn.
I learned this the hard way.
A lot of seniors are in a worse situation than you.
While confiding with my daughter about being depressed over something, she immediately snapped back saying, “You have no reason to be depressed. There are a lot of old people out there in a lot worse situation than you.?
She was right. We could never enjoy life if we are so self-focused; if we think that the world revolves around us.
That experience made me recall all the life lessons I learned through the years the hard way. To enjoy life…
1. Don’t overthink
Don’t overthink, especially about your problems.
Problems are necessary components of living. We all have them. But people who are enjoying life realize that problems are either real or imagined, serious or light and act on them accordingly.
Overthinking is bad because you are unnecessarily taxing your brain over things without basis, or may never happen at all.
Instead of fussing over an issue, analyze it carefully, act accordingly then move on.
As the saying goes, “Don’t worry, be happy.”
2. Minimize stress
Stress is the body’s reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. This response could be physical, mental, emotional in nature. Most of the time it is a combination of all.
It is a normal part of life and could be positive or negative.
Stress is positive if it alerts you to a threat or danger by motivating you to move or avoid it.
But when it becomes constant, even chronic without relief or relaxation, it will overtax your stress response mechanism resulting in the emotional wear and tear of the body.
It becomes harmful if it results in the compulsive use of stress-relieving substances.
When you feel stressed out, remember this – “…There’s going to be stress in life, but it’s your choice whether you let it affect you or not,” – Valerie Bertinelli.
3. Keep busy
If you want to live long, keep busy – that’s what Andre Maurois meant when he said,
“Growing old is no more than a bad habit which is a busy person has no time to form.”
Busy people are happy. They are never bored and their brains are always working. They are productive and, in a much greater sense, they are enjoying life.
4. Love
Love is a feeling that nurtures positive energy to a tired and lonely soul. Loving someone else or yourself is kind of a well-spring that nourishes your body and mind each day of your life.
It makes you care and share and, if necessary, bear the brunt of the vicissitudes of old age with a smile.
It makes you cherish and enjoy each passing moment of your life. And gives you a ton of health benefits.
5. Socialize
Having a close-knit of friends is one of the best ways to enjoy life. Good, supportive friends increase your self-confidence and self-worth. They make you feel secure.
Good friends can boost your physical, mental and emotional health. They are a good hedge against loneliness and isolation. They help reduce stress and can contribute to longevity.
Socializing these days is a lot easier than decades ago when you had to walk a mile to see an old friend. Now, you can reach them any time of the day, wherever they may be. They are just a click away.
6. Be grateful
Nothing sets your day right better than to say a prayer of gratitude for living another day, of seeing another sunrise, of being with your loved ones.
Being grateful in all things – big and small – gives you more positive emotions, enjoy a good experience, improves your health, builds strong relationships and allows you to deal with adversity.
Expressing gratitude, to give lasting happiness, is not simply saying “Thank you,” but by having a cheerful and grateful disposition.
7. Have faith
Faith is complete trust or confidence in a person, thing, or concept.
The life of an elderly is not a leisurely drive along the freeway but a roller coaster ride. In some days, you are up, in others, you are down. There are many unexpected twists and turns that can make you lose traction, direction, or purpose.
What evens them out, the equalizer is faith.
You can lose everything or everyone in your life but never lose faith. With faith, you can withstand the worst storms in life. Without it, a soft breeze will topple you down.
At 71, I am enjoying life to the fullest. But it was not like this a couple of years ago. Arriving at this level of enlightenment can be likened to that of Gautama’s.
A couple or so years back, I used to overthink. That habit usually led to anxiety or bouts of depression. Until one day, my daughter socked it to me straight (mentioned above).
That episode made me sit under my own Bodhi tree and recalled all the life lessons I learned from the past and put them to good use.
You, too, can.
Please share.
~oOo~
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