People love to talk about how lucky young people are with their youthful faces, lively energy, and having their whole lives stretched out ahead of them. However, not as many people seem to remember all of the stress, emotional turbulence, financial instability, and self-doubt that come with limited years of life experience.
Furthermore, people rarely mention how lucky the elderly are, as well as all of the great benefits that come with ageing and years of life experience. Here are five reasons why you should look forward to growing older, flaunting your age with pride.
1. Retirement
Who hasn’t fantasised about kicking back and relaxing on a sunny beach with a refreshing cocktail in hand? Retirement is something that people look forward to from the day they start working, and now after all of your years of hard work and caring for your loved ones, you can finally take some well-deserved time to care for yourself. Get used to your new life of comfort, rest, and relaxation.
2. More Time to Spend with Loved Ones and Doing New Activities
Beyond not having to work anymore, retirement means more time for yourself and ultimately, more freedom in your life. Whether you want to spend more time with your loved ones, travel the world, or pursue interests that you couldn’t before, now is the time to do all the things that you’ve always wanted to do. Go visit that country that’s been on your bucket list for decades, spend precious time with your grandchildren, learn a new language, or take those painting classes that you’ve always wanted to try. With all of the free time and freedom in the world, the possibilities are endless.
3. Old-Age Pensions/ Senior Discounts
Who doesn’t love a good discount? One of the best benefits of getting older, without question, is all of the senior discounts that you are now eligible for. From delicious discounts on food to cheaper cinema tickets, even the simple joys of life can be experienced at a lesser expense. Click here to see some of the old-age pensions/discounts that you are entitled to.
4. More Established Sense of Self and Finances
Years of life experience and accumulated wisdom mean that you’ve had time to establish a solid sense of self, not to mention stable finances. Knowing all of the struggles that you’ve overcome throughout your lifetime, as well as the unique qualities that make you who you are have given you the wisdom, confidence, and self-worth that you may have lacked during your younger years. Long gone are the days of insecurity and self-doubt. You know who you are and what you’re worth, and no one can take that away from you.
5. Older People Have Been Scientifically Proven to be Happier
The phenomenon of the “U-Curve of Happiness,” backed by a great deal of international research, shows that people tend to be happiest during their childhoods and older age and are most unhappy during the middle portion of their lives from their early 20s to late 40s. Research often attributes this to the fact that older people don’t compare themselves to others like younger people tend to do, are able to better regulate their emotions, feel less stress and regret, and spend less time dwelling on negative information. In other words, it is likely that you will be happier in your old age than you ever were in your 20s.
