Happy Thanksgiving! This month, to celebrate thankfulness, I asked many of my fellow senior-aged friends if they would share some kernels of life wisdom with me for this column. I was humbled that more than 50 people responded.
Those of us lucky enough to have made it into our 60s and beyond have mostly figured out what’s important in life and are well aware of our shortcomings and stumbles. I had to whittle down the quotes I received from several thousand words to 600, which means I’m sharing a “Reader’s Digest”-style condensed version, but I thank everyone who contributed insights!
Faith, friends, family: Live a faith-filled life. Thank your Creator every morning when you wake up. Continue to grow in your faith and relationships with family. If God didn’t give you enough strength, he probably gave your family and friends a little extra. Value your time with family and friends, tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Accept friends, family and loved ones for who they are, rather than imposing your expectations on them.
Thankfulness: Start and end every day with gratitude. Be grateful for each day when you wake up on the green side of the grass. Learn to be happy and grateful by choosing to live and love your life one moment at a time, rather than dwelling on past hurts or future worries.
Love: Never let anyone leave your home without getting a hug and hearing the words “I love you.” Kindness never hurts anybody. Hugs lower blood pressure and save marriages. Hospice work teaches you that relationships, not ‘things,’ are most important in life; love is the bottom line. Give love to whomever is in front of you.
Health: Care for your body: allow time for self-care, make healthy eating choices and stay active. Go outside and move around every chance you get. Exercise. If there’s inclement weather, and you can’t get out, at least go stand on your porch!
Let it go: Anger, shame, regret, envy, remorse; just let it go. Worry less and be thankful more; your life will be easier. Be a survivor, not a victim. Perfection is a myth. Worry accomplishes nothing.
Forgiveness: Learn to forgive those who hurt you, even when it’s hard. The one who did the hurting has usually moved on, and you will be the one who continues to suffer.
Priorities: Fish bite the same whether your fishing rod costs $25 or $3,500. The greatest wealth is time with loved ones and the wisdom to cherish every moment. Be content with what you have. You don’t need more, more, more. You can’t take it with you!
General: For joy in your soul, watch children at play. Engage in volunteer work; helping others helps yourself. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Be the first to laugh at yourself when you mess up. Say what you think, not what you think other people want you to say. Don’t let a day go by without a good laugh. Learn to compromise. Make a habit of mailing encouraging notes to family and friends. The only person’s behavior you can control is your own. Travel! Work as long as you still enjoy it. Never overlook an opportunity to celebrate! Always follow your heart. Life is not always fair; focus on the small joys even when the big picture is out of focus.
Friends, wherever you find yourself tomorrow — whether you’re part of a big raucous family consuming food fit for an army, busily serving meals to the less fortunate, or if it’s just one or two of you quietly giving thanks for a simple carry-out meal — I hope your Thanksgiving Day will be peaceful and filled with blessings.
