On the bright side of aging: Experiences to look forward to as we get older

As a person ages, there may be routines or activities that they stop doing as they move into the next phase of life. But there are so many new experiences to look forward to as well. With retirement and aging comes a freedom to take part in experiences we never had time for before and build relationships and communities we might not have considered before. A few seniors shared with me some of the reasons they have enjoyed aging and the time post-retirement. Read on to find out what they describe as “the bright side of aging.”

Exploring New Passions

“I don’t have time” is a phrase most people find themselves saying more often than they would like. It can feel like lack of time limits the new things you want to try. Always wanted to learn how to kayak? Or maybe you used to dream of filling your yard with plants and starting a garden, or writing a book about something that excites you. Now is a great time to explore passions you felt you did not have time for previously and to try new things you had not considered in the past.

There are lots of senior communities that do activities together that you can discover through Facebook groups, or senior communities in your area if you want to try new things with others who share similar passions and interests.

Spending Time with Family

Being able to spend time with family is a great part of aging and retirement. If you live close by, spending time with your grandkids or planning to have dinners together are memories they’ll never forget. Those small moments are times both you and they will cherish.

“I love living close to my family and being able to see my grandkids and spend the afternoons with them,” Marjorie, 72, shared with me. If you live further away from family, taking trips to see them or planning trips to meet up somewhere is a great way to spend quality time and get to travel and see new things. 

Traveling

Traveling as a senior can have so many unique experiences, and you may try things you might not have considered during past travels. Not being tied down to work time constraints can mean that you have the ability to take longer vacations and really get to experience what it is like to live in another place for a while.

“It is nice not having to go back into the office, really take my time,” Arthur, 76, shared. In the past you may have been so rushed to see all the sights and get back home to go back to work, but being able to travel for weeks at a time means you can really know the neighborhoods and communities in different cities and countries. This can be a great way to soak up the local cultures and continue to learn and try new things. 

Investment in the Community

Being intentional with your relationships and communities can be a wonderful part of aging. Peggy, 84, shared that being retired gave her time to share her love of nature with her community by helping make walking and biking trails near her home. Making nature easily accessible to her neighbors was a way to invest into her community and use her time and passions for a good cause. “[It was] really fun to be able to focus on the work about the trail, and keep many strands [of the community] connected together,” she told me.

She shared that she also loves to take part in local volunteer opportunities, being a great way to meet people and give back to a community that reciprocates that support.

Wisdom with Age

With age also comes a lifetime of experiences and growth opportunities. Reflecting back on what life has taught you and the experiences you’ve had can show you all the wisdom you have acquired. Sharing that wisdom with friends and family can start a chain of stories and advice passed down through generations. This can have such a wonderful impact on your loved ones and will be advice they keep in mind when they come to crossroads in life. “I love knowing that a piece of my life can help my kids and grandkids in their future,” said Katherine, 81. “It’s a lasting impact I can make.”

Often, the first thing we think of about aging are the activities we’ll no longer do, or the ways in which we’re likely to change. But there’s so much to look forward to, as well, as these seniors shared. Leave a comment below if you have something you consider to be “the bright side” of aging.

— Missy Roney