Embracing Elderhood

    It is not uncommon for individuals to avoid thinking about growing old because it conjures up feelings of dread and anxiety as well as images of inactivity, sadness and decline.  The truth is, however, that life can remain rich, satisfying, and meaningful throughout one’s lifespan. Each life stage offers challenges, but incredible rewards as well. 
    Therefore, it is important to view “old age” as one of many transitions in a continuum of life experiences. Those who navigate well through other life transitions will likely have the same experience as they move through the various phases of growing older.  The skills, values, interests, and attitudes you accumulate along your life’s journey will continue to serve you well in later life.
    The secret of successful aging is to always maintain a “future focus” by acknowledging the impact of choices made today on life in the future. In addition, it is important to seek growth and development in all areas of life throughout adulthood. Erik Erikson was a 20th century psychologist who greatly contributed to our understanding of how humans develop—both socially and psychologically—and how they age.  He was the first to recognize the potential for growth and development throughout our life spans, even into very old age. 
    Erickson taught us that the developmental task of elders is to look back and evaluate their lives. He believed that those who are able to look back and accept the course of events and choices made, and to view their lives as being necessary and important, will experience a sense of peace and satisfaction. 
    Erikson wrote that the successful outcome of this later life developmental milestone is wisdom—the ultimate gift to one’s self and to others. Likewise, many experts on aging promote the concept of Elderhood—a role in later life that brings a deep sense of meaning and purpose. But, what does it really mean to be an Elder?  What qualities do we look for or try to cultivate?
 
    Barry Balkan, the co-founder of the Live Oak Institute, describes an Elder in a way that defines—in a clear and concise way—the characteristics, rewards, and responsibilities of Elderhood:

“An Elder is a person who is still growing, still a learner, still with potential, and whose life continues to have within it, promise for and connection to the future. An Elder is still in pursuit of happiness, joy and pleasure, and her or his birthright to these remains intact. Moreover, an Elder is a person who deserves respect and honor and whose work is to synthesize wisdom from long life experience and formulate this into a legacy for future generations.”

    As you think about yourself in old age, it is essential that you identify and visualize the various components you want to include in your life composition. In fact, the greater your understanding of what is truly important to you, the easier it will be to “paint a picture” in your mind of what you want your life to mean to you and others and what you want to experience as you grow older. 

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