It is inevitable. The muscles weaken. Hearing and vision fade. We get wrinkled and stooped. We can’t run, or even walk, as fast as we used to. We have aches and pains in parts of our bodies we never even noticed before. We get old.
It sounds miserable, but apparently it is not. A large Gallup poll has found that by almost any measure, people get happier as they get older, and researchers are not sure why.
“It could be that there are environmental changes,” said Arthur A. Stone, the lead author of a new study based on the survey, “or it could be psychological changes about the way we view the world, or it could even be biological ”” for example brain chemistry or endocrine changes.”
I speak as one who will be 80 on my next birthday — I still think of myself as young, but when I try to act young, my body betrays me. I am not happy about that, although I am generally happy about how things have turned out for my family, etc. I do not agree at all with those who continue to spout the message about the wonderful golden years, and that they are the time of joy and freedom. My arthritis hurts, my spine is collapsing at the site of an injury received when I was indestructible, and my Type II diabetes won’t let me eat the sweets I love. Mark Twain said that there are “liars and damn liars”, and I thinkk those who continue to tell me how wonderful I have it are of the last variety. I love life, and I absolute hate old age!
desert padre
Perhaps the correlation between increased happiness and old age is not for the reasons the article suggests, but rather that people who are unhappy do not live as long. It is known that cortisol, which may be potentially damaging, is released under stress; a similar chemical event may occur within the bodies of those who are not happy.
I have to say that despite the fact that my back hurts and I (at age 50+) have already lived far longer than I expected to at age 15, I am definately vastly happier, more contented and useful than I was in my restless teens, twenties, and thirties. Actually every decade past 20, despite bringing significantly more in the way of challenges, heartaches etc has been happier than the last.
I think the important thing is to remain in relation with Jesus Christ, and to remain in relation with your family and friends regardless of how unreasonable, imbecilic and sometimes downright pathological some of these folks may be (Jesus as much as any!).
I think growing old is a bit like having children. All kinds of hormones, receptors and chemicals you did not know you possessed turn on, and your IQ drops about 50 points. You get fatter, stupider, more sleep deprived and it’s all just awesome.
I don’t think its “happiness” so much as acceptance. After sixty, one tends to fight it, and like all other things the unexpected can lay you low. Also, one becomes more likely to recognize futile efforts so sits back a bit, and accepts. Happy?, not so much, pleased with some things, and knowing what battles are worth fighting, and what aren’t.
Motto: Do the best one can with what one has, and have the commen sense to know not to overreach.
Grandmother72 in SC
#1. desertpadre
11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians Chapter 4). My physical personal bests are behind me. The other day I was running and an older guy commented as he passed me, “you’re pretty hard to pass as a walker.” I told him that in my mind I was running. spiritually I’m still moving forward.