Everyone fixates on age. It started when you thought 4½, almost 5, was cooler than being 4. Now, of course, we fudge in the other direction by saying we are 70 or 80ish or not talking about age at all.
Forget your age for a moment and focus on the big picture. How you live is more important than your actual chronological age, an interesting thought, don’t you think?
It is time to think about the years ahead rather than the ones gone by. There is still time to dump all the emotional baggage that you have been carrying around, and to use your energy to create a fresh start.
Why? Because you are worth it, and because you only get one last chance at this. You want to be independent, everyone does, but you need to answer a few basic questions first.
• Where are you going to live? Be realistic. Will you move in with a family member, opt for a retirement community. or do you want to stay in your own home? Surprisingly, your level of independence is not determined by where you live but by how you live.
• Do you already have one or more chronic disabilities? If you say yes, your decisions will hinge on how well you are managing them.
• Do you need help in your day-to-day life? More importantly, are you willing to accept help? Know that you can accept help and still be independent.
• Do you feel that you have a reason to get up every morning? Social and intellectual growth are important, but it is not going to happen if you live in a vacuum. Mental stimulation is just as important as being able to tie your shoelaces. Are you ready to explore educational, vocational, and volunteer avenues?
• Physical stimulation comes next. Do you see your doctor regularly, are you eating properly, and are you willing to commit to an exercise program?
Are you still waiting for the other shoe to drop? The idea of independent living isn’t exactly new, but you would be surprised at how many people fail because they haven’t looked at the “big picture.”
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