Words Sherrin Griffin, Sidney Seniorcare
A Simple Word with Profound Implications
As we move into retirement and transition into our golden years, we may find ourselves feeling rudderless, wondering what to do next in life and how we will fill our time. Retirement, including entering “seniordom,” is a massive change in our lives, and if we’re not careful, it can possibly lead to feelings of profound loss, lethargy and even depression.
The longest living peoples, including centenarians, and even those who survive crippling stage 4 cancer diagnoses or other dire illnesses all have something in common that is literally a game changer – PURPOSE.
A strong sense of purpose can be even more potent than the most promising lifesaving drug. Purpose can pull us out of mental health crises, life-altering illnesses and profound boredom. It gives us the drive we need to persevere and even thrive during life’s greatest changes and challenges.
Unfortunately, our North American culture tends to be more sedentary in lifestyle, especially as we age. Modern technology and conveniences, along with easy access to virtually everything, can make us lazy, apathetic and complacent, affecting our physical bodies, mental health and initiative/drive. These factors take a toll over the years, along with the common view in our culture that seniors are not as valued or capable members of society as their younger counterparts.
Thus, our “golden years” become not necessarily so golden, and are often fraught with mobility issues, debilitating illness and/or a general sense of futility.
We can learn a lot from other cultures whose strong sense of purpose carries them into their older years with grace, dignity and a joie de vivre that can be missing from our lives. Many European and Latin American elders work well into their senior years, whether that be herding goats in Sardinia (Researchers studying the “Blue Zones” were amazed at the nimbleness and incredible endurance of the herders, many of them well into their 80s and 90s!), making wine in France or running a family-owned bakery in Chile. Working later in life keeps them active, mobile and mentally engaged with their tasks.
Whether passion for a job, a hobby, their families, community, church or other, the engagement derived has immeasurable benefits on seniors’ overall health and well-being. For many older adults, finding this sense of fulfillment comes from many different opportunities and rewarding paths:
- Continuing to work, which not only helps financially, but offers engagement with coworkers, knowledge sharing, problem solving, mentorship opportunities, etc.
- Taking up a meaningful hobby that you never had time for before, like learning how to play pickleball, improving your golf game or writing a children’s book.
- Sharing in family responsibilities such as helping to care for older parents or young grandchildren, sharing wisdom, experience and family traditions with other family members.
- Educating yourself and/or learning a new skill, i.e. taking a course that you’ve always been interested in, learning a new language, how to paint or how to play a musical instrument.
- Volunteering with an organization that has special meaning for you, whether that be a hospital or care centre, animal rescue agency, women’s/children’s shelter, etc.
- Creating a new daily routine that gives you purpose, better health and joy such as starting your day walking in nature, followed by coffee with a friend, then an exercise class at your local gym.
- Finding your faith, whether that be organized religion, new-age spirituality or simply developing personal practices that give you deep peace and gratitude.
Studies show that a strong sense of purpose for seniors greatly protects against cognitive decline, lowers stress levels and promotes a longer, healthier life. Purpose doesn’t have to equate to grandiose achievements – it can simply mean nurturing relationships, sharing stories, experience and wisdom and indulging yourself in anything that excites and motivates you.
