Age Spots by Jackie Dover
My twins, my babies are graduating from high school in a few months. I cannot believe how fast time flies. It feels like yesterday I was carrying them around in their little car seats and now they tower over me. The funny thing about time is, it’s the one thing we can never get back. Once the time has passed, it is just gone, we cannot slow it down to savor a precious moment or speed it up to get through an awkward or painful time. Time is finite for each of us and we each get to decide how we spend our time.
We do not have to wait to start living the life we want to have; we can start now. Prioritize what is important to you.
- Spending time with family and friends that you enjoy is a great way to spend your time. Building social connections has many benefits; it can lead to better health both physically and mentally. Friends and family can be a support system and help when needed and can hold you accountable to stay active and make better choices. Spending time with the younger family members can build memories they will cherish forever.
- Devote time to hobbies or find new hobbies to pursue. I love to read and do that almost daily. It is a way for me to relax and refocus on myself; it is something that is just for me. I can turn off the outside chatter and just focus on what I find enjoyable. Finding something you enjoy doing can add value to your life, it can reduce stress, make you happier and introduce you to new people who have similar interests.
- Be true to yourself and live the life you want. Get to know yourself and what makes you happy and pursue that. We all need to make choices that bring us peace and happiness. Find out what that is for you.
- At the end, when you reflect back on your life, you do not want to have regrets about the life not lived. Take that vacation of your dreams. Reach out to the friend you lost touch with. Make amends to those you have wronged and choose the life that makes you happy.
- Make healthy life changes. Eating healthy and incorporating more physical activity may help you live a longer healthier life. It could give you more time with those you care about and allow you to do more of the things you enjoy.
I am enjoying this time with my High School Seniors, we will never have these fun, stressful and crazy moments again. I know in the next few months we will have lots of changes, some I will enjoy, some I will struggle through, but I plan to make as many long term memories as I can, because this time matters. I hope you do the same.
There are only 10,080 minutes in a week, how do you want to spend those precious minutes?
If you have questions about aging services, please call Aging Matters, 800-392-8771. Because, Aging Matters.