What’s good about getting older? Wisdom!

We recently ran into an old friend who we haven’t seen in quite a while.  He was lamenting getting older and slowing down. Then he started talking about the positive side of aging. We’ll paraphrase his comment: “Getting older—especially when you’re retired—can bring some meaningful upsides once you look at things objectively. It’s not all slowing down. I find this stage surprisingly rewarding in ways I didn’t expect.”  He went on to highlight a few reasons that we think are well worth sharing.

Many of us now have freedom over our time. We’re no longer tied to a work schedule, deadlines, or office politics. We can structure our day exactly how we want—sleep in, travel off-season, or just enjoy a slow morning without pressure.  Along with that may come less stress. For many of us retirement reduces the constant background stress of work, commuting, and career concerns. That alone can improve both our mental and physical health.

We finally can focus on what matters to us personally. We have time for things that were always pushed aside—family, hobbies, reading, learning, volunteering, or even starting something new. We can develop deeper relationships with those we care about. Without work competing for our attention, we can invest more time in friendships, our partners, children, and even grandchildren. Conversations tend to be more meaningful, too.  We can go deeper and explore relationships and learn along the way.

Aging can alter perspective and build confidence in our thoughts and actions. We can get a clearer sense of what matters—and what doesn’t. We’re often less concerned with impressing others and more comfortable being ourselves. It's called WISDOM.

We can REWIRE many facets of our lives. Many people take up new hobbies (painting, golf, music); do part-time or passion-driven work; travel more; and volunteer or mentor others. Focusing on our drivers as we select new activities and pursuits can lead to a huge sense of fulfillment.

A lot of retirees say they appreciate everyday moments more—coffee in the morning, a walk, a good book—because life is less rushed. Many of us will have responsibilities and caregiving roles that can be consuming. But remember, finding time for self is important to a healthy and rewarding REWIRED life. Save some time for yourself.  Aging isn’t all bad after all.