Twelve Steps for Never Feeling Old Again

The ancient sages, feel good psychologists, classical essayists even gurus high atop distant mountains in India all seem to agree on one salient point: that people need to know how to enjoy their retirement years. Think of your own immediate circle of friends and how many of them clutch and sputter about their misfortune and infirmities, be it their visits to the doctor's or their sense of losing touch with the joy of living.

Do they speak like veterans constantly recalling their days under fire at the front? Do they complain about how they must change their diet to accommodate better health in their later years?

Whenever I hear such statements coming from my retired acquaintances I can only respond that whatever the conditions of life its better to be older than to find oneself memorialized on the other side of the grass.

But despite my cheerful zeal and enthusiastic suggestions for a happier life too many retirees of my acquaintance continue to sputter like broken down jalopies out of touch with their facility for joy, refusing to kick up their heals and whistle Dixie.

Therefore in order to be helpful I would like provide the following simple twelve step program to retirees which when followed will begin to evoke positive change practically overnight.

1. Begin by giving away the majority of your clothes except perhaps for a comfy pair of shoes and shirt, trousers, or top and skirt you wear while relaxing at home. Then allow yourself one new article of clothing every week for three months. At the end of that time assess your new wardrobe and show off wearing it especially to the Easter parade if it happens by.

2. Rid yourself of whatever possessions you believe have monetary value, especially what you hold onto because it belongs to your past. Those family relics from Great Uncle Albert, antique furniture you never liked but kept for its value; family mementoes from trips to places you never went; whatever keeps you focused into the past and seems precious so that you place an inflated value on its dollar worth. Keep only what you love and treasure as a true memento of the good life and the happy memories you enjoyed.

3. Insist upon enjoying one spectacular pleasure each day. This pleasure represents your key moments for that day and is looked forward to accordingly. It may involve a special favorite meal, occupation or film--whatever brings joy to your heart.

4. Regardless of the weather insist upon exercise. Go outside and breath fresh air each day for at least twenty to thirty minutes. Find comfortable ways to exercise in doors during a blizzard or a heat wave.

5. Plan your meals as though they were feasts prepared for royalty. Insist upon at least six different special meals a month. Help in their preparation. Appreciate their taste and the comfort provided you.

6. Refrain as best you can from talking about and living in the past. If it didn't happen within the last ten years, forget it. Living in the present helps keeps one optimistic and happy.

7. Work to dismiss negative attitudes toward family, co-workers, even friends or acquaintances that inadvertently may have caused you discomfort. Do not allow yourself to dwell on what you may perceive as misfortune but which may in truth be a blessing in disguise. For instance suppose you got that big job at the World Trade Center and jaunted off to work that day on 9/11 rather than being passed over.

8. Plan a mini vacation or have a three or four day getaway at least once every three months. Book it ahead so you really have something special and wonderful to look forward to.

9. Whether or not your partner is still with you, keep your spirit of romance alive. There is a special bodily juice associated with joy and we all know that things go better when we keep the life juices flowing.

10. Smile as often as you can regardless what else you may be doing. If what you are doing doesn't make you smile chances are you need to ask why you're doing it.

11. Do something everyday that you don't want to do when you don't want to do it. Recognize how your body generates impatience especially when engaged in what you might consider unpleasant. Allow yourself to see any task as a pleasure especially something you may have once thought you didn't like doing.

12. Recognize your own patterns of resistance to change, how you avoid trying out new things. Instead, have fun and allow more whimsy into your life.

If you follow these twelve easy steps you'll extend your life and enjoy yourself a lot more. Despite what anyone may say to the contrary remember we really have the power as well as the God given right to happiness, joy and feeling good all the days of our lives.