Lessons From The Elderly About Happier And Healthier Living
Who Better to Ask?
As a nursing home volunteer, I found myself frequently conversing with the elderly about any reflections they had on their lives. During their old age, they have profound realizations about what mindsets would have made them both happier and healthier overall.
Here’s what they taught me about living to your highest potential.
The hardest climbs lead to the best views
It’s the struggles in life that shape us and determine who we become. The elderly frequently tell me that they have finally been able to see their difficulties in life as sources of both strength and character. They are proud of the challenges they have faced and wish they had adopted this thinking when going through difficult times. As one resident told me, “Just keep moving. Minutes of patient can lead to years of growth.”
It’s easy to see how you can use this mindset to achieve your goals, both in the fitness space and out!
You are the main character
A lot of us forget that each of us has a different story. When we try to align our stories with what other people expect or want, that’s when we lose our own. I always hear residents talking to me about dreams they wanted to fulfill. They want us to know that whenever we don’t know what to do, we should ask ourselves, “Will this make me happy? Will it add to my story?”.
In your healthy living journey, remember that you are the main character. You don’t need to compare your results to others; they are your own! Your story will unfold, maybe just in a different way.
Resting doesn’t mean quitting
Sometimes life gets really hard and common wisdom tells us to keep persisting. We should, but what’s often left out is that it is ok to take a break. Taking a break from challenges in our lives makes sure that we have the time and energy to come back with a better mindset. Taking a break does not have to mean “giving up”… it just means we’re re-energizing ourselves for a bigger comeback!
How does this lead to happier living? If you find yourself completely stressed out, take a break! It’s ok! You can meditate or just rest your mind and body. When you come back after this rest period, you’ll have a clearer mind and renewed purpose.
It’s the little things
Yeah, the big things are great but those in nursing homes rarely talk about what they’ve achieved. They speak of candid moments of generosity and kindness that they still remember, even decades later.
One of my most famous stories is a resident that loved the violin, but her family could not afford to get her one at the time. When a musician shop owner saw her staring at the violins in awe, he gave her an old violin to use for free. That defining moment started her entire career in music. She never talks about how she used to play at Carnegie Hall, though — she only talks about the generous shop owner who helped her live out her dream.
We often forget that making others happy can also help us become happier too (yeah, science backs that claim up too). So be kind, both to others and yourself!
There’s no such thing as false hope
Hope is the desire that a situation or circumstance will turn out favorably. By its definition, it can’t be false. It’s either there or not there. You have hope or lose hope… and residents unanimously say that life is far better when it is there.
This means that when you think outcomes are unlikely, you should still have hope. It is possible for you to become healthier, happier, more fit, etc… Whatever you want is possible. Just have hope… because sometimes it’s all we have.
It seems that those at the other end of life have deep wisdom to share… Do any of these lessons resonate with you? How are you going to use them to become the best version of yourself?
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