The secret to happiness after sixty

Happiness in the senior years

Recently a little nugget of inspiration came winging through cyberspace into my inbox by way of a forwarded e-mail. It was something that John Lennon is supposed to have said: When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. Whether the late Beatle really said this or not, the quote is thought-provoking for sure. Set me thinking. Though many of us delude ourselves that a bigger house, a fatter bank balance, or a fancier car is the thing we want the most, what we’re all really longing for above everything else is happiness. Who doesn’t want to be happy? No matter what our age or ethnicity, it’s something we all want, something that’s prized by everyone, senior citizens included. After working hard to raise a family, and slogging for 40-80 hours a week, maybe more, for decades, not to mention coping with stress at the workplace and the nerve-racking commutes to work and back, every senior looks forward to being happy after retirement. And justly so. Happiness after sixty, after retirement, is every senior citizen’s right.

How to be happy after retirement

Well, happiness, being a subjective thing, means different things to different people. For me, it’s all about inner peace, and about what goes on inside one’s head. What about you? As Abraham Lincoln (one of those greats I love to quote) put it: “People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.” The celebrated Greek philosopher had said something similar millennia ago: “Happiness depends upon ourselves.”

For modern-day words of advice, here’s a concise but perceptive article by Dr. Elizabeth R. Lombardo, a psychologist, physical therapist and author of “A Happy You”, in which she reveals her secret to a happy retired life for those in the senior citizen years.  

The best way to maintain a happy lifestyle for newly retired folks is to A.G.E.:

A = ASSISTING OTHERS: Research overwhelming shows that when we help others out, we feel happier. So find a group about which you are passionate (children, animals, nature) and look for ways to help them out. This is a great way to apply your passions, strengths and values, all of which are part of The Happiness Prescription.

G = GRATEFULNESS: So often people are focusing on the negative (what’s wrong) as opposed to what is actually going right. Sure, you may have lost a lot of money with the economy, but I bet there is still much good. If you can take a breath on your own, have people who love you, have a kitchen where you readily have food and water, why not appreciate those?

Ask yourself, what would I miss most about today if I lost it all tomorrow? Then start being grateful for and appreciating it. And every night write down 3 things about which you are grateful.

E = EXERCISE: Research shows that exercise is as effective as anti-depressant medications for people with depression. Exercise also reduces stress, boosts confidence, improves sleep and enhances libido.

Sounds like a wonder drug to me. So look for ways to exercise that are fun and safe for you.

Dr. Lombardo’s prescription for happiness in the senior years has just three simple ingredients. All you need is determination and perseverance to make it work for you. And yes, you also need to kick the worrying habit to be happy after retirement. Perhaps listening to this Bob Marley number (with a video of a poor girl finding happiness in little things) could do the trick for you. I guarantee it will at least make you tap your feet or sway uninhibitedly to the invigorating calypso beat!

See ya… and keep smiling!