Aging is Changing….Are You?
As we age, I believe there is a tendency to step back from and ignore the aspects of the current world because it feels so different than the world we were raised in and became the people we are today. We see and hear things we don’t understand and maybe don’t agree with. Controversy over genders and pronouns, controversy over social media, new technology, new genres of music, world news and situations. But you don’t have to agree or disagree with something to have an interest in it. And it is that interest that matters no matter what your opinion. When you dismiss everything going on around you because you don’t understand it or don’t agree with it you are taking a step back from the world. Each step back disconnects you a bit more from the world you live in and if this happens enough times in small ways throughout your days you fade into the background of your world. I believe this contributes to older adults feeling invisible and irrelevant.
But by becoming more aware of things in the current world and processing them, both the things we like and the things that we do not, we are taking an active role. That helps us to understand them even if we don’t agree with them. Being informed helps us to grow and we should never stop growing and being connected to life.
As an older adult you may have less confidence or belief in your ability to learn and master new skills. This can make you reluctant to even try doing things like using new technology. In truth, technology may be the closest thing we can get to toys as adults. Technology is good for the brain and helps you stay connected to today’s world. Toys are fun and we were never afraid to experiment with our toys. It doesn’t matter if we make a mistake the fun is in the learning and using.
Take a few minutes to examine where you might make some changes to step forward and become a participant in today’s world. Reconnecting with the world can be a rewarding experience helping older adults to stay engaged, active, and connected to their communities, friends and families.
Every day the world is changing in a million little ways and generously offering us ways to grow with it. Take advantage of all the new and interesting thoughts, ideas and events. It does not matter if you agree or disagree. It is the interest in learning what is going on that will help you to take that step forward!