You may not consider growing old to be a blessing. After all, there are many things changing for you such as your senses, appearance, endurance, reflexes and health. You might also experience the loss of your youth, hearing, sight, family, friends and pets. Although aging comes with losses, there are many blessings that you gain.
- New Interests: As you age, you are able to find time to try new hobbies and activities that you couldn’t explore before. The Villages® community has thousands of activities to choose from, ranging from sports and health to music and theatre. There is something for everyone!
- Creativity: As you explore new things and expand your mind, you may also become more creative. Art has many positive effects on the aging mind. Some of them include reducing stress, providing an increased sense of control, reducing anxiety and depression, reducing boredom and increasing self-esteem. Let out your inner Picasso!
- Perception: Your perception of age and time changes as you age. You have a lot of experience, so you are now able to more accurately estimate and appreciate the value of time.
- Spiritual Intensity: Your spiritual side may develop more and more as you age. It is important to believe in a greater purpose and have an appreciation for life. Having a strong sense of purpose can have a powerful positive effect. When you have a sense of purpose, you never get up in the morning wondering what you’re going to do with yourself. When you’re working towards your purpose – life becomes easier, less complicated and stressful.
- Inner Strength: With age comes inner strength. Inner strength develops by putting yourself first, training your mental and emotional body, and embracing what scares you. By now, you’ve gone through a lot of different life experiences that have increased your inner strength.
- Deepening of Personal Relationships: The more time you spend with people, the closer and deeper your relationship is with them. Maybe you’ve been with your spouse for over 40 years and you have a deep and intimate relationship. That is a blessing! You may also grow deep personal relationships with friends. These connections are particularly good for the aging brain.
- Acceptance of Who We Are: As you age, you learn who you are. You go through difficult situations in life that cause you to learn more about yourself. You have most likely embraced and accepted who you are and that is a beautiful thing!
To learn more about aging, register for a free learning center class. All of our courses are free to the entire community. You do not have to be a patient or a resident of The Villages to attend, so please remember to bring a friend.