Planning to Enhance Life Purpose During Your Advanced Years

Planning to Enhance Life Purpose During Your Advanced Years...

Life is rich when we have a purpose in our lives. Science is now proving just this, even though many wise ones have known this over past centuries. As we move into the second half of life, this means redefining so much of who we are. During our earlier years, meaning seems to be in life so naturally with our families and careers. When children are grown, careers have wound down, spouses may be gone, and we are not physically able to do the things that we used to be able to do. I’ve spent some very rich time with my 83-year-old aunt, who just recently passed away. I was struck with how deeply she longed for the days when she was able to help others, and how she wondered why she was still here. She had always been one to create fun experiences for her blind foster brother, Jack, and his good friend. Jack had been blind since birth, and his good buddy had mental challenges. They both lived in a hotel for seniors with low incomes. She would take them to their favorite hangouts for burgers and fries; go with them on excursions around the city, to her house in the foothills, or even shopping for the everyday things. This brought them such great joy. When Jack passed away, she continued to take his buddy to do things. She also would pick up her 94-year old sister to take her to her monthly reunion with her high school class. She continued to do many kindnesses for others. It was her joy in life. Then the day came when she lost her driver’s license. She lived in the foothills of Colorado where there were no bus lines, stores, or...
Volunteering: The Gift that Gives Back

Volunteering: The Gift that Gives Back...

I remember a couple of years ago I was going through some serious changes in my life, some were quite frustrating. I felt myself spiraling into a pretty serious depression, and it felt like nothing could lift the dark fog that was making its way into my life. The turning point came during a tea date with a friend. I confided to her how down and out I felt, how it seemed nothing was coming together in my life. When I finished, she said something that I still remember to this day: “ You need to get out of your head, and help someone else”. She was right. I had been spending so much time focusing on myself, on what was wrong with my life, that I had become a prisoner in my own head. Nothing felt good enough, and I had no sense of pride or accomplishment.  My friend gave me the number of a homeless shelter where she sometimes volunteered, and the very next day I called. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. I began volunteering almost right away, helping people apply for housing and jobs, working in the kitchen, or helping in the children’s center. By the end of the first day I felt happier than I had in weeks. Just spending a few hours helping someone else had completely gotten me out of my own head. Within a few weeks of me volunteering, my own problems began resolve, and my depression lifted. One of my favorite quotes is this one by Winston S. Churchill: “ We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” One of the biggest problems those entering the second half...
Life in Review: Writing Down Your Legacy

Life in Review: Writing Down Your Legacy...

 life review as a naturally occurring, universal mental process characterized by the progressive return to consciousness of past experiences, and, particularly, the resurgence of unresolved conflicts; simultaneously, and normally, these revived experiences and conflicts can be surveyed and reintegrated.” – Robert N. Butler, PhD (1963)“I conceive of Many people enter into a transitional time or the second half of their life with the desire to look back on past moments, the challenging and the rewarding. By examining your personal history you can often change the way you see things now. You can come to terms with the turmoil of your past, and bring joy into the present moment. The concept of collecting your memories and writing them down as thoughtful retrospective was pioneered by Robert N. Butler, PhD, in the 1960’s, who summed up the process as a “life review”. In the last 50 years, there have been many studies done on the positive effects of writing on the human brain. The benefits of writing down your thoughts and feelings are innumerable. Not only can it help you with emotional pain, but it has been shown that it can help heal physical wounds as well. Many people chose to write expressively, journal about their daily lives, or keep gratitude journals. As you begin to get older, it may benefit you to review your life, and create a written account of your legacy. Here are some different ways you can tell your story. Traditional Autobiography Style Begin by mapping out your timeline. Your story doesn’t have to begin with your birth, you can include stories of your ancestors, your family history – anything that you feel is a part of who you are. This is the brainstorming part of the...
Practice Mindfulness and Find Peace

Practice Mindfulness and Find Peace...

“Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.” ― Mother Teresa Growing older is like stepping into the great unknown. Each day has the possibility of bringing great success, tragedy, or just plain monotony. Many enter their golden years unsure, and scared of what the future may hold. As our bodies begin to age, losing the strength and tone it once had, with our hearing and eyesight beginning to fade, it’s easy to panic. Everything begins to change at an alarming pace, and so we begin the tireless search for the fountain of youth, something that will restore peace and calm in our life. We see it all around us, people using (and sometimes abusing) diet and exercise fads, anti-aging products, plastic surgery, “miracle” drugs and anything else that promises to slow the aging process. Instead of appreciating the serenity and wisdom that comes with growing older, many fall into a deep depression, and become jaded and pessimistic. How do you stop yourself from being part of this vicious cycle? How can you learn to be happy, despite all the changes that are happening in your life? Mindfulness. Mindfulness is a concept that focuses on awareness and attention. Although it is derived from the Buddhist religion, psychologists have been using it since the 1970’s to help people suffering from a variety of psychological conditions, including anxiety, depression and stress. There is a difference between practicing mindfulness vs. meditating. Meditating is a spiritual or relaxing mental exercise, such as focusing on breathing or chanting, whereas mindfulness is about being aware and attentive in a non-judgmental manner. Mindfulness meditation is all about being aware of your surroundings, the feelings in your body, the noises...