Newness
Life is full of changes and transitions. It is a personal choice to have an attitude that looks at life as “accepting the old” or “discovering the new.” We can find fresh and glorious experiences at any stage of life, and especially as older persons, if we seek to make new discoveries.
Meaning
In the past we have ascribed meaning and even our self-worth through accomplishments, jobs, income, and titles. Living meaningfully more rightly springs from cultivating life-qualities such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Joy
We can allow ourselves to be mired in the muck of anxiety, bitterness, and doubt of our past. Or we can, rather, look for reasons to be grateful for each day, being intoxicated by the beauty of life and celebrating its serendipitous moments, however large or small they may be.
Possibility
Getting older and being retired opens opportunities for new adventures. Instead of withdrawing from social experiences, there is a freedom to launch into new encounters. Tiredness breeds more tiredness. Activity, even when forced and done reluctantly, awakens the spirit, provides fresh insights, gives birth to new ideas, and stimulates creative thoughts.
Forgiveness
Only forgiveness can free us to rise above many of the pains in our past, even if this forgiveness is not acknowledged, requested, or accepted by others. Forgiveness is more important to the wellbeing of the one who forgives than the one being forgiven. Because it is not possible to make amends for all of our past failings, we do well to claim the forgiveness offered by Jesus, reflect it in our relationships with others and self, and start each day afresh.
Dreams
Essential to vibrant living, dreaming (daydreaming, aspirations, hopes) helps us move beyond resignation and into anticipation. Dreaming about what could be is the first step in achieving it. Our dreams can help us achieve what must yet be finished in our lives, and even in the world. The older we get, the stronger is the foundation for imagining and acting on possibilities for a better future.
Relationships
Some stay locked into and limited by relationships in their past. Others, as they get older, withdraw and disengage from social involvement. However, it is never too late to begin new relationships and cultivate new friendships. Older adults are rich in experiences and can be happily enriched by sharing these with one another. The efforts of caring for others as we do for ourselves provides mutual blessings.
Wisdom
Wisdom comes from time and experience. It is a development of life-understanding that is earned by the old who, with it in their possession, have responsibility for sharing it with those who are younger. It is the privilege of those no longer in the “normal” workforce to be thinkers, insight-givers, and encouragers of others in what they have found to be good, and true, and right.
Outreach
Many of the elderly live in isolation from society. They stay in their homes or are in retirement communities or in assisted living facilities. The choice of the elderly is that of staying in (their homes or rooms) or stepping out. Will we withdraw, or will we reach outside of ourselves to manage the life that we have in ways that benefit and bless others? And, wonder of wonders, those who give to others find themselves being blessed!
Future
Older people generally have a state of mind that fits into one of two categories. One is, “I’m getting older. I just can’t do that anymore.” The other says, “I am free from many of the responsibilities and obligations of the past. This my big chance to live outrageously free, outrageously involved, outrageously fun-loving, outrageously adventurous, and outrageously alive!” Treasuring the time that remains, now is the time to, in faith, imagine the impossible, attempt the unthinkable, and plan the incredible.
Conclusion
This has been an overview of selected topics from the book, The Gift of Years. It has summarized the areas of Newness, Meaning, Joy, Possibilities, Forgiveness, Dreams, Relationships, Wisdom, Outreach, and the Future from a positive, life-transforming perspective. Following is additional information and a link for those who would like to purchase the book.
The Gift of Years by Joan Chittister
“Joan Chittister, one of our most celebrated spiritual writers, invites us to embrace older life age as a natural part of life that is both active and contemplative, productive and reflected, and deeply rewarding… and shows us that this is a special period of life – maybe the most special of them all.” Quoted from the book jacket.
This book may be purchased by clicking here. This blog is also available as a narrated YouTube video by clicking here.
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