Photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash
The older we get, the faster time seems to speed by, often magnifying our concerns about what may be around the corner. Our minds muse with comparisons and projections as we weigh the health and life spans of our parents and siblings with our own. At the end of a calendar year, we may even ponder whether we’ll be alive to see another.
Reflections like these are not only disturbing, they’re unhealthy and counterproductive. They increase our anxiety while illucidating nothing. There is only one absolute certainty in life; we know what it is and there is no need to dwell on it! This is one of the main reasons I give thanks at this time of year.
We elders need to engage in life as fully and for as long as we are gifted this miracle! Taking care of our health and moderating our physical activities as we grow older are relevant considerations. Sensible changes such as using a cane for additional support to prevent a fall and a possible broken bone is a smart choice. We must not see it as a sign of fragility so much as wisdom and practicality. Going for a nice long walk outdoors on a regular basis can be just enough to protect ourselves physically from declining, so plan on at least one physical venture outside daily.
By enjoying the present moment and living fully in the present, the quality of our lives is enhanced. One simply cannot live happily by dwelling on the past or an unknowable future. Every day is filled with a degree of uncertainty. But the one thing that our society, which has been plagued with conflict of late, can all experience in a unified way, is to wish one another — and to experience for ourselves — a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Dr. Hugh Winig is a retired psychiatrist, a longtime OLLI @Berkeley member and volunteer, and a regular contributor to the OLLI Blog.