Senior Housing Connection

ARE YOU CREATIVELY AGING?

Tuesday, May 01, 2012

It’s the downside of aging that we hear a lot about and it is true, there are “issues” to deal with, but there’s also a lot of good news about aging. Like most things in life, it all begins with attitude. Our aging experience has no limits except for those we put upon ourselves. For most older people, it will be the first time that you’ve had the time to fulfill your dreams It’s never too late to experience the thrill of learning new skills, gaining more knowledge and experiencing the joys of a purpose-filled life. Gene Cohen, long-time expert in aging, calls it the “awakening of human potential” in his book, The Creative Age. The benefits of creativity in our later years includes: a strengthening of our morale, a contribution to better physical health, enriches our relationships and can be our greatest legacy, according to Cohen.

You might be surprised by the number of great people who experienced their greatest achievements during their later years. George Bernard Shaw, Grandma Moses, Alex Haley, Eleanor Roosevelt, Golda Meir, Winston Churchill and Frank Lloyd Wright are just a few historical figures that blossomed at an “older” age.

So where do you begin in regards to creativity? Where do your passions lie? What did you always dream of doing? Some of us will pursue a degree or learn a new skill. Many older people find they have a greater sense of urgency in pursuing their dreams. Ask yourself, “If not now, when?”

Ideas for you to consider at any age:

  • Write your family history
  • Learn to paint or draw
  • Take up photography
  • Plant a dream garden
  • Write a cookbook
  • Learn to play a musical instrument
  • Travel to a place you always wanted to go
  • Record your life story
  • Study your favorite subject
  • Volunteer with your favorite charity,

When it comes to fulfilling your dreams, the only failure is not trying. What dreams for 2012 would you to like pursue?