Bonnie Bauer | Member , Wellness Committee

There is never a shortage of things to be thankful for if we just take the time to look .

A short video called “ A Moving Story about Gratitude ” on YouTube touched my heart , as my love for teaching has always been one of the things I have been most grateful for in my life . It ended with a very special quote .

“ Let us be grateful not for the material things given to us but the small ways we give something to others .”

We often teach children to fill other people ’ s invisible buckets . In return , their own bucket will be filled , and they will be happier . This can be true at any stage of our lives — young or old .

Like all things , the process of aging can present its fair set of challenges , but we just have to remember that the positive aspects of old age drastically outweigh the negatives .

1 . Wisdom . This comes from all your years of experience . They say that “ experience is the best teacher ,” and experience brings about wisdom that can ’ t be learned otherwise . A person learns much more from things that happen to them in real life . Wisdom also makes you able to empathize and feel other people ’ s emotions .

2 . A happier outlook . Perspective has a way of showing you that ultimately , life always works out . Research suggests it may be easier to feel grateful as we grow older . Neuroscientists have suggested that older people have a sunnier outlook because the area of the brain involved in emotional attention and memory becomes less active in response to the negative information . Older individuals maintain or even increase their reactivity to positive information .

3 . Opportunity to pursue lifelong dreams . One benefit of retirement and aging is that it gives us forty-plus hours of free time each week , which we can now dedicate to pursuing other lifelong passions and dreams . I love to make digital photo books , and someday I would like to learn to quilt . Travelling is also a top priority .

4 . Financial perks . One of the obvious positive aspects of old age is the opportunity to cash in on our CPP and old age security . I haven ’ t made it to the second one yet , but hopefully I will in another few years . That ’ s something to be grateful for . ATRF pays me to wake up each morning and do whatever I want with my day . Plus , there are senior discounts for travelling , dining , and shopping . You just need to learn what day to do your shopping to get the best deal . I recently found out that Thursdays are twenty per cent off for seniors at a nearby drug store , and they even included me . It was pretty sweet !

38 | arta . net GRATITUDE