Working Caregiver- Personal
Envisioning Aging as a Time for Introspection and Connection
New Aging - Personal Growth
 If you ask many seniors how they feel about aging, they will tell you it's as good as a death sentence. That is because many seniors fail to see the positive aspects that can come with getting older; instead they focus upon the decline of their bodies, their minds, and their independence which prohibits them from being able to live out their later years as they would have preferred. But we all get older, we all undergo changes, and not all of them are easy to accept; but with a more positive outlook, it's possible to make the most of the aging process and to see it as a time to really live, instead of looking at it as the beginning of the end where the grand finale involves a grave stone.
The elder years are a great time for intrinsic discovery. Throughout our lives we allow our roles to dictate who we are; we play the role of mother or father, husband or wife, career-focused person, and sometimes caregiver for our elder generations. We adapt to our changing roles every step of the way, and somewhere hidden beneath it all is the person who we would really like to be. In older adulthood, without all these other factors to define our being; we can really focus on getting in touch with the person who has been inside us all along. Getting in touch with our sense of being in older adulthood can mean something different for each of us - for some seniors, self-exploration comes with taking on new hobbies; for others, it comes by looking deep inside through yoga or meditation. But each of us can get there as we age and take the time to really evaluate who we are and what we want out of life - then once that's established, all that is left is to go out there and get it!
As we explore our intrinsic selves in older adulthood, we can also do the same with our relationships. As our roles have defined our personalities throughout the various periods in our lives; they've also had a similar influence upon our relationships. The senior years should be seen as a time to reconnect with our loved ones and really get to know them on a personal level. Perhaps the most important relationship, aside from the one that we have with ourselves, is with our spouse, if we're lucky enough to journey through the elder years with a loved one still by our side. With all of the other distractions behind us, we can form a deeper bond with the most influential people in our lives; a bond that will travel with us even after we have left this earth.
The senior years bring new opportunity for renewed life. Focus on what's really important as you journey through the aging process; look inside yourself and connected with those around you so you find enlightenment and inspiration, rather than devastation and disappointment as you live out the new beginning of your life.
Via: Second Journey | 
