Community Corner
6 Pathways to Find Meaning as You Age
Friends and family change, physical abilities change, goals change – life changes.
This is a paid post contributed by a Patch Community Partner. The views expressed in this post are the author's own, and the information presented has not been verified by Patch.
Let’s be real, we all know that getting older is no walk in the park. Some days seem to slip by in an instant and others drag on for what seems to be an eternity. Friends and family change, physical abilities change, goals change – life changes. Yes, change happens, but as the wise David Bowie once suggested “turn and face the strain… Ch ch ch changes.” By doing so, you can live life to its fullest.
Living a full life matters to your physical and mental well-being. Studies show that living with meaning and purpose - in line with your value systems and goals – has a number of benefits for both mental and physical health. It promotes happiness and alleviates loneliness and boredom. Being active, social, and adopting a positive mindset will do more than improve your longevity; it will also make life better for you and the people around you. So how does one find meaning in life amongst change?
6 Pathways to Meaning
1. Create a Personal Mantra. Creating a mantra is fun, creative, can change your focus from negative to positive thoughts and increase your resilience to obstacles. It involves a bit of self-reflection on what you would like to achieve in the future – giving you something to look forward to. They tend to be specific and motivating to help keep you focused and centered. They generally consist of a word or phrase and are unique to you and your goals.
If you are having some difficulties figuring this out, come join us at The Landing of Collegeville’s FREE “Write your Story Workshop” with Blossom Counseling on March 14 at 1:30. Meanwhile, find a quote that will inspire you like this one from Mario Quintana. “Don't wait for someone to bring you flowers plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.”
2. Cultivate Compassion, Love and Friends. Staying connected with friends, or in some cases, making friends can often be difficult when you grow older. Studies show that having at least one good friend makes a difference. Making connections and having compassion for others helps protect you from feelings of isolation and boredom. Social activities that encourage connection could be meeting up with friends for coffee at the diner or it could be as easy as smiling and sharing a kind word or compliment to a stranger. All of which can be beneficial to you (the giver) as well as the person receiving the gesture. It’s a win, win!
If you are looking for an easy way to meet new people, consider joining the Collegeville Senior Meetup Group. We meet at least once a month at various locations in and around the Collegeville area. Our next meeting will be on March 23 at 4 pm at The Landing of Collegeville.
3. Find Gratitude and Joy in the Little Things. Studies show that gratitude can improve sleep, mood, and immunity. Gratitude can decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain, and risk of disease. So why don’t we practice this daily?
It’s really easy to practice the act of gratitude. It could be a simple gesture of noticing a bird that’s come to visit your feeder, a note written to an old friend to just say “thank you”, feeling the warmth of a cup of tea/coffee radiate from your hands to your heart. Noticing, and being present, within these special moments benefit you by releasing the positive “feel good” hormone, Oxytocin.
Want to learn how to take the first steps of living a grateful life? Join The Landing of Collegeville for a FREE “Words Matter” workshop with Blossom Counseling on March 16 at 1:30 pm
4. Stay fit and active. Life moves quickly and taking a few minutes (at least 10 minutes a day) can often seem overwhelming. But if you don’t have energy and strength then you won’t be able to accomplish much. The stronger you are, the longer you can remain independent. (A great mantra if you are looking for one 😊)
Whatever your wellness goals are, there are plenty of options available (online and in person) to help you make your retirement years some of your healthiest and most interesting years! Consider joining Silver Sneakers at the YMCA, walking the block with a friend, downloading a wellness program on Saltbox TV (an online platform dedicated to helping individuals age 55+ learn, stay connected and be entertained) or if you’d rather try a new group exercise program, call The Landing of Collegeville and join us for one of our PrimeFit programs.
5. Encourage Creative Expression and Play. Give yourself permission to play. I know, we often think that play is only for little kids, but we would be wrong. Besides stress relief (because when you do something fun your body releases endorphins which elevates mood and reduces stress), playing can improve brain function, improve relationships and open up worlds of possibilities.
Play is simply doing something for fun as opposed to work. For some, playing games (including outdoor games) and puzzles is a great way to spend time alone or better yet, with a friend. Learning something new – perhaps art and music – is also a great way to share something beautiful. And while we are talking about the expressive arts – dancing is one of the best activities for numerous physical, mental, and social benefits. At The Landing of Collegeville, we encourage exploration and pursuing joy. Why? Because happy lives make happy people.
6. Do Good, Have Fun and Make a Difference - Helping others makes an immeasurable difference in our life. Doing good deeds actually helps people lead a better, healthier life with many benefits including:
- Staying physically and mentally active. A study released by Johns Hopkins University in 2009 revealed that volunteers actually increased their brain functioning. Volunteering gets you moving and thinking at the same time.
- Decreased risk of depression. Volunteering with and for others increases social interaction and helps build a support system based on common commitment and interests, both of which have been shown to decrease depression.
- Reduced stress levels. By savoring your time spent in service to others, you’ll feel a sense of meaning and appreciation, both given and received, which can be calming.
So, if you are ever looking to Do Good and Have Fun – look no further. Just give us a call at The Landing of Collegeville and together we will make the world an awesome place! Our next fundraiser will be our March Madness “Brackets for Good” to benefit the Pottstown/Pottsgrove Little League! Give us a call for details.
Your golden years will shine the brightest when you find your purpose and improve your wellbeing. So, ask yourself:
- What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?
- Which activity or aspect of your day do you most anticipate?
- How do you work toward personal growth?
Interested in learning more about what it means to live a full and empowered life for older adults? Contact Carin from The Landing of Collegeville at #484/854-1600 or cbrastow@leisurecare.com Happiness never gets old at The Landing of Collegeville.
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