Wellness
Linda Manwarren | Wellness Committee
Thinking about Change
Whether we embrace it or try to ignore it, we all know
that change is a constant in our lives. Everything is
constantly changing — the environment, the weather,
the economy, society, our bodies, our family and our
friends. For some, change is terrifying because it
involves risk and loss; sometimes a signifi cant loss, but
always a loss of the comfortable and familiar. Perhaps
viewing change as opportunity might serve us better.
As we age, life can bring new adventures if we embrace
change with a positive attitude.
Healthy aging means systematically reinventing
yourself as you pass through landmark ages such as
sixty, seventy, eighty, and beyond. It means fi nding
new things you enjoy, adapting to change, staying
physically and socially active, and feeling connected
to your community and loved ones. Change can be an
opportunity to experience something new, to grow
and evolve.
Change asks you to fi nd a new purpose, learn
and master new skills, and meet new people.
A key ingredient in the recipe for healthy
aging is always fi nding meaning
and joy in life. As we age, life
will change and we gradually
lose the things that previously
occupied our time and gave our life
purpose. Dan Buettner, National
Geographic writer and explorer,
travelled the world looking for the
planet’s longest-lived people. He found
areas with many centenarians living healthy,
fruitful, and meaningful lives. Among other things,
Buettner’s team found that a strong sense of purpose
added approximately seven years to a human lifespan.
New learning opportunities can help us feel
grounded and excited about the future. After three
months, older adults who start a new activity have
improved memory compared with those who only did
familiar activities. Classes can provide intellectual
stimulation and social opportunities. These are potent
tools in embracing change, exploring new purposes,
and fostering new relationships.
Staying social can have a powerful eff ect on your
health and help you to handle change. Having an array
of people you can turn to for company and support
is a buff er against loneliness, depression, disability,
hardship, and loss, and there are many ways to
establish these connections:
• Connect regularly with friends and family. Spend
time with people you enjoy and who make you
feel upbeat. It may be an exercise class with
a neighbour, a lunch date with an old friend,
shopping with your children, or playing with
your grandkids.
• Try to make new friends. As you lose people in your
circle, you need to make new connections so your
social life doesn’t decline.
• Spend time with at least one person every day.
Whatever your living situation, you should not be
alone day after day. Phone or email
contact is not a replacement for
spending time with other people.
Regular face-to-face contact helps you
ward off depression and stay positive.
• Volunteer. Giving back to the
community is a wonderful way to
strengthen social bonds and meet others
interested in similar activities or who share
similar values. Even if your mobility becomes
limited, you can get involved by volunteering
on the phone.
• Find support groups in times of change. If you
or a loved one is coping with a serious illness or
recent loss, it can be very helpful to participate in
a support group with others undergoing the same
challenges.
Yes, change is a part of life. Making time to refl ect on
our lives through various lenses — social, physical,
emotional, fi nancial — can help us identify where
change is needed. Whatever changes you must make
in your life, you can choose to view them as an
adventure that off ers the possibility for fun and
new purpose. ●
news&views SPRING 2020 | 43