By Mary Beth Kane

I am sure we all have met a few seniors who are so vibrant and active that we are tempted to ask them to share the secrets to their vitality. If disclosed, their responses might include eating well, exercise, genetics or simply luck or positive thinking.

What if we all stopped to imagine ourselves as that vibrant senior? What actions are you taking today to ensure that your older self will be grateful to your younger self?  That is, what are you doing now to give yourself the best chance at being vibrant, active and engaged during your senior years? Working and connecting with seniors every day, as a Senior Care Counselor for Arbor Terrace Morris Plains, has put me in the position of meeting an amazing number of lively seniors. Along the way, I have learned a thing or two.

 

Before most of us see our last sunset, we will not only have to grapple with past choices made in our own life, but at some point, we may have to contend with making critical decisions for sick loved ones or aging parents. In this role, we hope that the loved one’s younger self has made wise decisions. Hopefully, being aware of this possibility helps all of us be more conscious of how well we care for ourselves today. Here are a few things I have learned that your future self will thank you for:

 

  • Practice living in the NOW. Don’t allow yourself to be “fixated” on the past with regret or the future with anxiety. Sure, plan for the future, but don’t stress over it.
  • Develop interests beyond work or career. Find leisure activities that bring your heart joy and fill your life with purpose and passion.
  • Make healthy choices. Move your body more and eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Your future self will definitely show you its gratitude with vitality and strength.
  • Develop a sense of humor. Learn to laugh at yourself and the ironies of life. If you already have a well-developed sense of humor, then be intentional about laughing more often.
  • Be grateful. Learn to count your blessings in life, focusing on the positive emotions that come with these blessings.

 

In my long career in healthcare and senior living, I know that no person ever lies in bed during those final moments and wish they had worked harder or accomplished more. No, they wish they had been more present for loved ones, followed their passion or made healthier choices. And they wish they had done this much earlier.

Mary Beth is a Senior Care Counselor for the Arbor Company and can be reached at marybeth.kane@arborcompany.com