Let's Enjoy The Autumn Of Life

By Alice O'Brien, Psychiatric Nurse

Summer brings us sunshine, long days and excitement. But the real colour comes during autumn. The crisp yellow leaves fading to brown, the reds and rusts of nature, the chocolate coloured horse chestnuts and the crispness and crunch under foot as we walk into natures living art gallery.

The same could be said for our life span. We may feel that all the fun happens in our youth, but the real colour comes in the autumn of our life. There are so many advantages to having a few miles on our clock.

• Studies have shown that older people are significantly happier than their younger counterparts. This is due to have better coping skills and abilities to deal with life’s surprises. It seems than when you’ve seen it all, it’s harder to be surprised.

• Retirement can bring choice. You can choose to spend your day as you see fit. You can spend all day reading the paper if you wish, you can socialise if that’s on your agenda or you can spend it walking a mountain. The choice is yours. Gone are the eight hours in the day that have to be accounted for. Your time is your own again.

• You have so many good stories to tell. You have lived, you have seen things, and you have experienced events that younger people think of as history. And you can recount it all.

• You no longer have to worry about what others think of you. You understand what it is like to regret not doing things due to worrying about other people’s opinions. You can now live the way you want to, unapologetically, without explanation.

• You don’t have to worry about what you don’t know as there are generations below you that can explain it to you- a grandson who can tell you about Whatsapp, or a bank clerk who will show you the benefits of online banking.

So, grow old gracefully if you chose, or grow old disgracefully if that’s your preference. Either way, it’s your choice and that is true freedom.