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How to Live Joyfully as You Get OlderWhat's it all about Happiness is a choice we make for ourselves. Joy is not achieved through the absence of problems, but by the attitude in which we approach the perils of life. Happiness is our exterior reaction; joy is the inner light that shines through from our souls. As we age, we experience loss; it is through these experiences that we grow. As one door closes, another opens to a new pathway of experiences. It is our choice to approach the new with positive anticipation or to drag along baggage filled with old disappointments. New realities Old age is paralleled with early childhood. As infants we move within a limited range, becoming stronger, until as adults we are in control of our universe. In old age, once again our range is limited. These changes, the way we behave, think, and take care of ourselves, influence our lives. To grow old is to grow wiser and more creative. Note a playground of children, happiness on the outside, joy on the inside - experiencing reality through their perceptions. We retain our youth through our passion and our dreams. Our perceptions of who we are, how we have fulfilled our purpose, and how we express our talents connect us to living joyfully. The benefits of joy Many of us live in the past and the future, oblivious to the fact that each moment in time is a unique jewel, a potential source of joy. Feelings of joy cause the body to produce interleukins and interferons, powerful anti-cancer agents. The experience of joy can strengthen the immune system and supply the physical system with energy. Joy eliminates emotional impurities, stimulates memory, expands the mind, and promotes spiritual growth. Joy supplies the mind with hope, and hope is the strength that takes us into battle against the factors of aging. |
