 To your second half transition
Positive Aging - managing your next stage of life
What are the four signs of aging? They are Wisdom, Confidence, Character and Strength. Look for them not with dismay but with hope. Valerie Monroe.
Have you met a positive person who always answers ‘It’s fun!” to every enquiry about her work, commitments and activities? I know someone who is accused of being too optimistic and should know better – that everything does not always turn out well.
It may be that this person is one in the stage of life called generativity, as described by Kenneth and Mary Gergen. People in this stage are perhaps middle aged and involved in creative and productive work. Their special efforts and interests ensure that everything in their control will turn out well. The opportunity for people to continue in this valuable work of looking to the future is to care for the next generation.
Can you be optimistic about moving successfully throughout your life?
You move through life as a series of transitions, from early adulthood to senior adulthood. In the first half you learn to get along with your spouse or partner to make your relationship work. You learn to collaborate with your work colleagues in order to advance your career. As you grow older you learn to worry less about your self and more about your children, or your parents.
Imagine working through these transitions with hope and expectation that everything will turn out well. This happened to an intellectually disadvantaged man. He was well supported and nurtured during his childhood. He works as a truck driver and has twelve children. He thrives on living every day, because he sees every day as a challenge. He finds his life highly satisfying, with family, friends, work and golf.
How can you be positive about your transition as you age?
Consider that in supporting the younger generation, they in turn may support you. One man suggested that younger people help you make adjustments, to societal changes. A relative of mine, an aunt aged 84 learned how to text on her mobile phone. When her granddaughter sent a photo of herself on the Italian ski slopes, my aunt texted back her message immediately.
You can join others who are transitioning to the next stage also. Take a course that interests you; subscribe to a website that features activities and associations that offers activities that you enjoy; find out what groups in your local community that may need your professional expertise.
Celebrate those birthday milestones with gusto and expectation. Two people I know have reached their 60 th birthday. One friend seems to fear turning 60 and is ignoring the whole event, much to the disappointment of her family and friends. The other friend is planning a major party. Professionally designed invitations to over 100 guests have been mailed – no email for my friend! Classmates from high school days joined children and other family for the festivities, food and frivolities.
What will keep you positive as you transition to retirement?
Look at your life to date. You have managed to navigate all stages of life until now. Perhaps you have been successful in some areas, such as your partnership or marriage and your relationships with your children. In other areas you may want more, strive for more meaning or achievement.
Maybe your life seems complex and it is hard to work out what you really want. You don’t want to go straight into retirement; you want to work fewer hours in your current role or take another part-time role.
Take some time to think about changes as you transition. Have the courage to make a start, to take action. Maybe work with someone close to you or who you trust to make a plan. You may think of a plan as a roadmap with intersections and T-junctions. The plan is a first step and may be changed as you meet those intersections and make more plans.
What are you doing to develop your positive attitude?
Are you ready to think about the life you want as you grow older? Are you positive about the changes? Do you want help?
Contact us for a complimentary consultation to think about how you transition to the life you want with optimism and certainty. We work with you to discover what you want for your life. It will be the best 30 minutes you spend to get started on your plan for your future.
Sign up for our 52 weekly tips about your transition to retirement. The tips provide regular reminders of what you can do to make your transition inspirational and practical.
References
Gergen, K & Gergen, M 2010, The positive aging newsletter’, received 09 January, Issue No 59.
Stevenson, A 2008, Facing age, finding answers: stories for positive aging, Trafford Publishing, Victoria, Canada.
© 2009 Helene Strawbridge, All rights reserved. You are free to use material from the Second Half Success material in whole or in part, as long as you include complete attribution, including live web site link. Please also notify me where the material will appear. The attribution should read: By Helene Strawbridge of Second Half Success. Please visit Helene’s web site at www.secondhalfsuccess.com.au for additional articles and resources. (Make sure the link is live if placed in an newsletter or in a web site.)
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