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What
is successful aging, really?
 Successful
aging isn't about having the body and face that you had at the age of
20 when you're 80. That's not possible or possibly even
preferable. It definitely would be exhausting for the 80 year
old. Successful aging is about enjoying your life to the optimal
level regardless of age.Merely being able
to wake up and listen to a bird singing, and to fix your own breakfast
is a wonderful deal for many older people, although that may not
appear to be an exciting proposition to many 20 year olds. Although
this may be only an example, it reveals some of the more important
secrets of successful aging. Mary O'Brien M.D., stated in her book
Successful Aging "People who age successfully spend a lifetime
appreciating and enjoying the little, simple pleasures other people
overlook-a beautiful flower, a walk in the woods, or the sound of the
birds singing in the early morning."
She continued in
stating that "The ability to experience pleasure is a hallmark of
successful aging." However, it's important to note that pleasure
doesn't exist if you're not consciously aware of it. If you don't
notice the beautiful sunset it is not part of your reality and cannot
increase your experience of pleasure. Mary O'Brien stated "The bad
news is that we all miss hundreds of opportunities to experience
pleasure every day. The good news is, we can train ourselves to be
far more perceptive and appreciative."
Although there are
many important aspects to successful living, one of the most important
is to have a sense of purpose in your life. This sense of purpose
goes way beyond your profession or job. Many people seem to define
themselves according to what they do for a living. This is frequently
one of the first questions asked at a party, or when people meet for
the first time.
This job or
profession focused identity really doesn't become much of a problem
until after retirement. After retirement, this can become a bona fide
identity crisis. If you have identified yourself for the last 40
years by your professional identity; it can sometimes mean a sudden
drop in self-esteem.
Without a clear
sense of purpose in life, some older people may feel like they have
become "just another retired old guy." Successful agers know why
they're here and what their purpose is in life. They have a sense of
contributions that they can make in the world and in the lives of
other people.
Information
adapted from Successful Aging by Mary O'Brien M.D.
Additional Information and
webpage by Paul Susic MA Licensed
Psychologist Ph.D. Candidate
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