You are not a failure. Your life may not have turned out exactly as planned but you still have time to make a difference. It would be great to jump right in, but back up just a little, and start a little closer to home.
Can older people leave their old biases and prejudices behind? Seniors are generally willing to voice opinions, objections, and biases about just about everything, including why or why not they should make some changes. They defend their stance by blaming not only technology, but everything known as “modern this” and “modern that.” Their exact words I believe, are “I am fine just the way I am” or “I don’t need any of those newfangled gadgets.”
Do you nod your head in agreement, or do you shake your head and feel that you don’t want to be one of “them”. Do they act the way they do because they are stubborn, content with the status quo, or are they afraid that if they try something new that they will fail or look foolish?
Let’s talk a little bit about change. To start with, you are not alone if you fear change. Change is threatening. Change is scary, but if talking about change makes you feel defensive, you may already to be heading toward that “them” category. Stop it.
Do not buy into the old wives’ tales that make a mockery out of aging. Seniors, after all, have wisdom, experience, and problem-solving skills that have served them well for a very long time. Do not sell yourself short. Be willing to change.
You may think you don’t have the energy to take on anything new right now, but if you pace yourself, you can do anything. Start small. Don’t think about running a marathon, but rather about walking around the block, one step at a time.
Facing challenges will give you a sense of contentment, a sense of exhilaration, and a sense of power. You may not be able to change the world, but you can change your little corner of it.
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