Late in life, opportunities are on the rise.
Elderness is a grace; justify it through insights, continuous learning, and substantial contributions. Exert ourselves to be exemplary for others. All of us have good stories to share, but we do not know how to express them, with whom we can share them, or what the value of sharing is. A good real-life story is much more valuable than many dollars.
In addition to existing stories, it is time to create more good stories by virtue of long experiences, facing many ups and downs, and living a real life.
It is true that no book, no friend, no comparison, and no circumstances can compel us, when late in life, to make the best use of time. It is to be decided individually. Passing time here and there is akin to misusing precious time and living with emptiness.
Even after crossing 60, we can change our routines, hobbies, and preferences. We can create our own tasks. We can be more careful to be physically fit. We can expand our abilities to fulfil the dreams that were unattended during our 40s or 50s. Keeping glued to smartphones is the most common activity in current times, irrespective of gender, age, or culture, but in most cases, it is a sheer waste of free time when we are not enriching our knowledge.
Strat Correcting our deficiencies even now, whatever they are, and never gambling on the future
Late in life is the best time to reflect on myths, concocted stories, and baseless narratives. Any literate individual can check any information comfortably when we have an abundance of resources to ascertain both content and context. Looking at the merits, we can say that a smartphone serves as a mini library. It is enough to make us smart in many ways. But don’t depend fully on one thing. Develop the habit of getting confirmation through other commonly available means.
Just recall our working with a typing machine, a fax, and landline phones decades ago and the inconvenience attached to them. Now see convenience in the correction of words or sentences while typing on a laptop and efficient modes of sending messages or talking even while travelling and at home. How much time, energy, and material we are saving. Just take a moment to realise the pace of change in all walks of life.
In active life, we normally live with one identity. When change occurs, we find no path to creating a new identity. We feel a little isolated. Some are engaged in activities to continue earning. Earning is always good to maintain status, but learning every day is more essential in the sense that it is high time to contribute rather than accumulating more comforts. There is no end to seeking more money. Remember, with money, we can purchase a costly bed but can’t ensure sound sleep.
Treating any lifestyle as standard and ultimately a sign of success has proven to be a misnomer in all instances because, by any set of comparisons, some people were always ahead of us.
In our advanced age, we can improve our awareness through learning from a variety of easily accessible sources. Learning should be made as compulsory as eating, sleeping, and walking. In most cases, it is observed that people are adamant about changing their perception and attitude and are not ready to look inside (at their inner selves). Most of the time, we compare and get frustrated, which is meaningless.
Surprisingly, many people feel they are superior, but on what grounds? There is no justification and no supportive evidence. Nobody is going to accept our hollow claim. People believe in our actions, not our words.
All of us have masks of recognition, respect, power, and status, and when these masks are removed one by one, a person comes to know who he is in reality.
When many opportunities are available after 60, we must explore what is possible to do to move towards the purpose of life, which is not clear to most of us. It seems that the purpose of life for many great men and women, which might not have been revealed to them so clearly in their lifetime, is now clearly recorded. Also note that miracles are not allotted to only geniuses; they can happen to an ordinary man in remote places and in simple living. Any of us must not withdraw from doing goodness on the pretext of limited approaches to higher levels of performance.
What we are doing today will remain to be seen by others and is subject to scrutiny.
It is difficult to believe that someone does not have ten minutes to go through the pages of a book of their choice. Learning a new language, a new skill, improving our conversation, or sharpening our expertise is not time-barred on the ground that someone has crossed adult age. It is a plain excuse.
Mornings must not be missed, particularly in the advanced phase of life. It is hugely rewarding—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Believe that, in spite of overwhelming odds, we can achieve our goals. When there is no goal after being free from major obligations related to family and personal ambition, is it not comparable to a boat out of water?
Learn to do our jobs and tolerate dissent. Unlearn obsolete stuff. It is possible.
"A fool can know. The point is to understand. " ---Albert Einstein.
Many people are qualified, but many of them lack wisdom and vision.
Learn to move from exhausted to excited.
When there is a human factor in our activities, it is generosity. It is a one-sided act. Do more on this count to enjoy old age. The secret to happy living is giving.
Anybody can explore what can be done next, provided they choose an active life, even if the functioning of their body is not fully supportive.