I recently attended a conference where one of the senior attendees was among the most active. His mind was as sharp as his quick step. When I complimented him on his piano playing, he told me he had started lessons two years earlier. I often fantasize about taking piano or foreign language lessons, but that’s as far as it goes. The same gentleman said he remembered me from somewhere else. The next day, he reminded me that we had been at the home of a mutual friend some time ago—impressive and humbling.
I’ve often wondered why some people in their golden years feel lonely and depressed, while others stay active and vibrant. It seems that the latter never fall into boredom because they keep learning and growing.
If the mind stays stimulated, it stays engaged. Like any muscle, it reacts to challenges. It’s the gift that keeps giving, as long as we keep feeding it new data.
It’s interesting that many people look forward to retiring, but they might benefit more from “rewiring,” a term I recently heard in Toastmasters. As we continue to learn and share, we have good reasons to focus on life’s pleasures rather than aging.
If you feel like time is slipping away and it’s too late to find excitement, think again. Try writing down three things you wish you had always done, then pick one and start learning about it. Dancing, a sport, or painting? You’ll be surprised how energized your new knowledge will make you feel.
It’s never too late to take on a new challenge, and the rewards far outweigh the effort. Are you ready to be energized by making one of your wishes come true? Do you want to dwell on what you haven’t done, or do you want to be someone who skips through life enjoying every moment? It’s never too late to have a happy adulthood.
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Donna Marks is an educator, licensed psychotherapist, and addictions counselor in Palm Beach, Florida. She has worked with over 6,000 clients. Donna’s struggle with addiction brought her to a worldwide search for healing. She became licensed as a Mental Health Counselor in 1987. In 1989, she earned a Doctorate Degree in Adult Education, then became Certified in Addictions, Gestalt Therapy, Psychoanalysis, Hypnosis, and Sex Therapy. Donna developed an award-winning addiction training program at Palm Beach Community College. She co-owns an outpatient treatment program and serves as a consultant to treatment centers. For 36 years, she has taught A Course in Miracles.
Donna is the author of three books: the multi-award-winning title Exit the Maze: One Addiction, One Cause, One Cure, and Learn, Grow, Forgive: A Path to Spiritual Success, The Healing Moment: Seven Paths to Turn Messes into Miracles of Love, and her latest fiction, Fortis & Sapiente – A Tale of Two Lovers Who Successfully Navigate the Murky Waters of Love. Donna is a public speaker and has shared her methods with millions of listeners on podcasts and radio shows.
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