In the Season of Joy, Let’s Treat Our Aging Selves to a Big Helping

After Diane Keaton’s death, many fans were eager to watch or rewatch some of her movies. Keaton also left behind a legacy of books, including one titled *Then Again*, about her special relationship with her late mother, Dorothy. One way she differentiated herself from her mom, however, was in their attitudes about aging. Because of her health issues, Dorothy told Diane, “Don’t grow old.” Diane rejected the idea of avoiding aging. Instead, at 50, she embraced it, adopted two children, took in dogs, remodeled homes inspired by Pinterest and valued close friendships.

Aging can be fulfilling if we actively care for our mental and physical health. We also acknowledge that it’s not always an easy journey with ups and downs that require resilience. But joy is the thread that can be woven into each of our lives. It is the best journey and option we have. So go for it.

Here are 21 ideas for the new year that can spark joy as we grow older. What works for you?

1. Jumping into a new project, whether new music to sing or play, new art to paint, or new photos to take to remember a trip or a great outing.
2. Reading different types of literature and discussing specific works with friends or members of a book club, and being able to put down a book if we don’t like it. And always having a good magazine to dive into with meaty, juicy articles.
3. Trying out a new look, whether a new type of clothing—maybe those skinny jeans, new hairstyle or color, new lipstick, blush, eye shadow, new boots or a purse.
4. Meeting new people and figuring out who might become a friend, even a new special buddy.
5. Finding a new series on TV that makes us think deeper, laugh louder, want to keep watching and then being sad when it ends. (The Pit for some of us, Diplomat for others.) Or consider one of the many Rob Reiner movies in memory of the actor/director.
6. Not paying close attention to daily doses of upsetting news, but knowing enough so we’re not avoiding it completely.
7. Getting involved in a worthy cause and not just writing a check—whether packing backpacks with lunches, rounding up warm clothing, finding homes for rescued pets, tutoring kids who haven’t learned yet to read or becoming a mentor.
8. Rediscovering our spirituality, whether in a weekly house of worship, walking in nature or taking meditation or yoga classes.
9. Knowing “good enough” is great, and perfection is a pointless goal whether it’s finetuning our tennis, pickleball or golf swing and game, baking a cake or cookies, blow drying our hair.
10. Reaching a goal—a desired weight, becoming a mom, wife, cousin or friend, buying a house, taking a long-planned trip.
11. Having good healthcare plans--Medicare Parts A and B, a supplemental plan and a drug plan too. Good doctors and dentists who listen to us and offer sound advice. Equally joyous, getting good healthcare reports.
12. Enjoying the change of seasons and knowing that if we wait and age longer, the weather will change.
13. Giving up some of our long-ago beliefs and grudges and not letting some from our parents or others take up precious real estate in our brains. That was then, and we’re here now.
14. Being able to ignore old wives’ tales such as “breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck”—they’re exactly that, old.
15. Being able to agree to disagree and keep our cool and sometimes shut up when we engage with others.
16. Being able to say without hesitation “I’m sorry,” “I was wrong,” “Please forgive me,” and mean any of them sincerely and accept when someone says these to us.
17. Finding a food bargain, such as entrees at dinner for under $30, for lunch under $15, pastries for less than $5, lattes for under $6 and sometimes not ordering the cheapest thing on the menu. While we’re talking about money, finding birthday cards for under $5 as we see prices of nice cards climb upwards of $6 and more.
18. Being able to bend down, sit on the floor, get up and move around without aches and pains.
19. Finding a seat on a bus or subway and not getting lost when driving to a new destination.
20. Starting ballroom dance classes with or without a partner, then entering competitions once proficient. 
21. Accepting regrets but focusing on moving forward and feeling gratitude.