| Harold and Mary Allebach have been wellness practitioners for over half a century. Harold, now in his late seventies, is a certified reflexologist. Mary specializes in nutrition and health education. Both exercise daily, work full-time in their healthcare practice, sing in their church choir each week, travel, keep up with two grown girls and a growing number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, meanwhile maintaining a level of vim and vigor that causes people wherever they go to ask, “Where do you get all this energy?” SeniorZest™, an exclusive eColumn of MyBestYears.com, features information, interviews and encouragement to help you live life to the fullest, regardless of your age! |
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EIGHT KEYS TO HAPPINESS
...Your Choices Help Bring Satisfaction in Life
Somehow the picture of older men and women has emerged as mostly grumpy, dumpy, and frumpy. From our
experience, nothing could be farther from the truth.
In fact, new surveys are showing us some revealing statistics that are welcome news for the fifty-and-older
crowd.
Lately there seems to be plenty of things around to discourage. Are you ready for some good news?And how
does this news translate into ways that can help you become, as the MyBestYears.com motto says, "older,
wiser, healthier and better"?
Here are eight keys:
realizing that life was essentially what they made it. Happiness, for the most part, takes time, seasoning and
attitude adjustments. Time really is on your side. The life-expectancy numbers are rising by the year. Modern
medicine continues to unravel many secrets of illness and genetic challenges. Preventative medicine is
exploding with new solutions to age-old questions. Seek out information, and learn what works for you.
There are people of all ages around you whose lives could be changed forever through you. You have a life of
seasoning and experience. Whom can you help? What can you give? Where can you volunteer?
You may be surprised at how your selfless acts can begin to help you more than you can imagine!
KEYS
We have mentioned eight keys to happiness. There are many
more. What is important to notice is that keys are only effective
when you actually use them to unlock the doors in front of you.
Opening those locks requires effort. Sometimes it requires
patience and expertise. Your efforts, however, can open new
vistas to all that you desire.
Do you want to be happy? There are lots of keys. The choices are up to you!
...Your Choices Help Bring Satisfaction in Life
Somehow the picture of older men and women has emerged as mostly grumpy, dumpy, and frumpy. From our
experience, nothing could be farther from the truth.
In fact, new surveys are showing us some revealing statistics that are welcome news for the fifty-and-older
crowd.
Lately there seems to be plenty of things around to discourage. Are you ready for some good news?And how
does this news translate into ways that can help you become, as the MyBestYears.com motto says, "older,
wiser, healthier and better"?
Here are eight keys:
- Develop a Great Attitude
The golden years can truly be better. Or maybe it is perception because
people who have gone through the challenges of fifty or more years
have a wider viewpoint. Surveys such as a new Pew Research Center
study shows that Americans grow happier as they age. Even with the
economy unsettled, Seasoned Seniors are generally happier than
younger generations. There are many complex reasons, of course, but
attitude seems to be the most important thing. Winston Churchill once
said, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist
sees the opportunity in every difficulty." It's pretty much up to you
whether the glass is half full or half empty.
- Keep Your Perspective
There are several studies from a number of different countries
around the world, including ones released this year, that show that
almost everyone goes through a challenging period of mid-life
crisis when confronted with empty nests, career choices, sexual
challenges, sickness and the realization (sometimes triggered by
the death of family members and friends) of the brevity of life. The
worst seems to hit women around age 40, and for men that point
often hits around 50. Given time, however, we often have an
amazing capability to filter through the negatives in order to focus
on the positives. Consider it heartening, for example, that a 2005
study showed that Americans from 60 to 98 rated their own ability
to age successfully at an average of 8.4, with 10 being the
realizing that life was essentially what they made it. Happiness, for the most part, takes time, seasoning and
attitude adjustments. Time really is on your side. The life-expectancy numbers are rising by the year. Modern
medicine continues to unravel many secrets of illness and genetic challenges. Preventative medicine is
exploding with new solutions to age-old questions. Seek out information, and learn what works for you.
Pick Great Genes
That's impossible, of course, but it points to the fact that genetics do play a
large part in your happiness. A study in the March 2009 Psychological Science
Journal boosts the idea that DNA is often an underlying factor in your feelings
of well being and emotional stability. The best part of many studies that focus
on the difference between environmental and genetic factors shows that
people can pick the best from both upon which to build life choices. It really
does come down to choices. Even though a positive heritage is important,
there are simply too many illustrations throughout history of people who came
from horrible family situations who decided to begin a new heritage. Be aware
of your genetic weaknesses and strengths. You can’t choose your genes, of
course, but you can be alert to tendencies that run in your family and seek to
overcome those traits.
- Work Out Regularly
Resolve to get more fit and healthier than ever before. Regardless of where you are right
now—good, bad or in-between—you can get better. Study after study of people from all age
groups, even those in their nineties, show that those who follow a program of health and
fitness tend to live longer and with a better quality of life. Exercise also helps you battle the
depression, loneliness and vulnerability that can accompany aging by burning off cortisol
(produced naturally by the adrenal glands when angry or scared, often increasing blood
pressure and blood sugar while weaking the immune response) and releasing endorphins
(the body's natural pain relievers) into the bloodstream. As you challenge your body to stay
fit and balanced, your overall sense of well being and happiness naturally rises.
- Eat to Be Happy
Now, this isn't an endorsement of bad eating habits. Instead, it is an
encouragement to help you realize that you really are what you eat, especially
as you develop better habits. Dr. Michael Roizen, in his powerful book, The
RealAge Diet, says that by doing something as simple as eating fish two times
a week can actually make you look and feel younger. The same can happen
with a diet filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads, beans
and brown rice. He and co-author Dr. John La Puma show how they have
helped many reverse aging by changing lifestyle choices. They point toward
fifty-one food choices and strategies that are age busters. Learn them. Live
them. Love them. Happiness and contentment are a wonderful by-product.
- Plan for the Future
Avoiding tomorrow tends to cause a build-up of dissatisfaction and unhappiness. Update
your will. Make financial plans. Seek the advice of competent legal and financial
professionals, but ultimately make sure that you are making decisions that will best for you
and your loved ones. Be sure to inform your loved ones of your decisions. Better yet,
include them in your choices and seek their input on your plans. Denying reality never
seems to help. Facing the future does.
- Grow Your Faith
Study after study shows that people who believe in God and actively practice their
faith are generally much happier and able to handle life's challenges. Even medical
studies (including several from the prestigious Duke University) show that prayer
plays a large role in overcoming illness and injuries. The best part is that it is never
too late to begin your walk with God. (Click here for more information about
beginning that new walk.) Nor is it ever too late to grow your faith.
- Be a Giver
We have already quoted Winston Churchill on the importance of a good
attitude. He also said something as relevant about giving: "You make a
living by what you get, you make a life by what you give."
Sharing yourself and what you have is one of the key components of
happiness. Giving brings purpose.
What do you have to give? Time? Talents? Concern? Money? Help?
Attention?
There are people of all ages around you whose lives could be changed forever through you. You have a life of
seasoning and experience. Whom can you help? What can you give? Where can you volunteer?
You may be surprised at how your selfless acts can begin to help you more than you can imagine!
KEYS
We have mentioned eight keys to happiness. There are many
more. What is important to notice is that keys are only effective
when you actually use them to unlock the doors in front of you.
Opening those locks requires effort. Sometimes it requires
patience and expertise. Your efforts, however, can open new
vistas to all that you desire.
Do you want to be happy? There are lots of keys. The choices are up to you!
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