Who said getting older is bad? While we may get wrinkles and become less active as we age, there are also some fantastic benefits.
As the years pass, you start noticing physical changes and may find yourself resisting the natural aging process. Take heart because there is a lot more to look forward to. Getting older can be fun, whether it’s through gaining more control over your life, appreciating friendships, being OK with being alone, or accepting yourself as you are.
We’ve picked 15 of the best things we’ve noticed and happily embraced as we’ve entered older age.
1. You Become More Self-Aware
When we are young, life seems like something that happens to us. We aren’t aware of our patterns, how we behave in relationships, or what we want from life. We may have dreams and goals that aren’t our own.
We adopt beliefs from our parents, teachers, and peer groups, but with age, we become aware of how we think and act and our impact on others.
2. You Gain Perspective
All those sleepless nights worrying about problems that eventually disappeared seem like distant memories. One of the best aspects of getting older is learning to reframe life experiences. We realize that life is transient and nothing lasts forever.
This shift in perspective leads to a better quality of life without the drama of youth.
3. You Stop Caring About the Opinions of Others
It’s impossible to go through life without someone else expressing their opinion about something you say or do. In our youth, other people’s opinions can cause drama and stress as we try to disprove their views.
The beauty of maturity is that we stop worrying about what people think about us. It’s liberating as you understand that it genuinely doesn’t matter.
4. You Have More Control Over Your Life
After a certain point, we develop more stability in our lives. You transition from the conflict of youth and the uncertainty of not knowing where you’re heading. You have established your work, passions, relationships, and finances, and it feels like you have more control.
Of course, none of us have absolute control over external influences, but we become more assured about how we react to change.
5. You Start Appreciating Your Friendships
As you age, you may discover you have fewer friends. Childhood and college friends get married, move locations, or drift apart. You notice the people who stick around and are there for you when you need help; some people let you down.
You appreciate the value of genuine friendships and take care of your friends.
6. You Learn What Matters
You cannot experience life without tough times. Relationships break up. Family members pass, friends let you down, you lose your job, you experience financial difficulties, and more. The challenges of life shape you into maturity.
You realize there’s more to life than what happens to you and start prioritizing the things that matter.
7. You Accept Who You Are, Flaws and All
There is no such thing as perfection, but we may pursue this elusive goal when we’re young. We may be critical of our physical appearance, compare ourselves to others, and think we are not good enough.
Eventually, with maturity, you will accept who you are and how you look, and your quality of life will not depend on what you achieve.
8. You Develop Deeper Character
One day, as you review your life, you realize you have developed a depth of character. Life has molded you into wholesomeness. You approach challenges with stoicism and determination; life’s punches no longer push you off balance.
This depth of character enables you to make better decisions as you step away from the impulsivity of youth.
9. You Appreciate the Value of Time
One of the weird things about getting older is that time genuinely seems to speed up. The days and weeks blur into years.
You begin appreciating every precious moment, savoring life experiences, and enjoying time spent with family and friends, laughing, eating a delicious meal, and being out in nature.
10. You’re Comfortable Being Alone
We are surrounded by people at school and college, many of whom become friends. When we start working, we may have work colleagues and develop friendships there too.
You may get married and have children who one day fly the nest. Suddenly, you have time alone and start enjoying this valuable time. The older you become, the more you appreciate that solitude can be enjoyable.
11. Small Things Make You Happy
As we age, our appreciation for life develops. With that comes an awareness of all the small daily things that contribute to our happiness and well-being.
The sound of a bird in the garden, a friend dropping in for coffee, or someone smiling at you in the supermarket — all these small things make you happy.
12. You Enjoy Napping
When you were a young child, napping for fun wasn’t your first choice. You may have rebelled against your parents sending you to bed for a nap.
As we age, the napping may become more frequent, and it can be a delicious afternoon siesta. The odd 30 minutes during the day prepares you for anything else you plan to do later.
13. Problem-Solving Skills Improve
You have navigated life, managing multiple problems in your relationships, workplace, and other challenges. Now, you have this fantastic foundation of problem-solving to call upon.
You can masterfully manage anything life throws at you. Others look to you for advice to help them solve their problems, knowing you have the skills.
14. You Have Time for Hobbies
Because you have learned the value of time, you are more enthusiastic about pursuing hobbies and activities that make you happy. You find time to go for a run, walk your dogs daily, visit the gym, or play golf with friends.
This free time is vital to your well-being, which becomes a priority as you age.
15. You Stop Taking Yourself Seriously
As we age, we become less self-conscious and realize we are all making life up as we go along. We find it easier to laugh at ourselves when we mess up, make mistakes, or do something foolish. We can laugh it off if someone insults us because it doesn’t matter. It’s a liberating aspect of aging.
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