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Is it just me, or does it seem to you that the older we get, the faster time seems to fly by us? Wasn’t it yesterday that my first Senior LifeStyles articles appeared in this newspaper, or did I just blink and this month’s column concludes my sixteenth-year writing for the TDB?  Where did the time and all those years go?

 

We’re now closing the books on 2022, and it is once again time to consider looking forward to the year ahead and reflecting on what went well for you in your life this past year, and what things can we change or add to our lives to make 2023 the best it can be.

 

If you read my columns, you know that I am not a fan of New Year’s Resolutions. For most people, they’re simply promises that we know will not be kept for more than a few days after we fall back into our usual habits and routines. Here are a few thoughts on what may be worth reflecting on as we approach the end of this year.

 

Did you lose anyone close to you this past year – a spouse, loved one, or a dear friend? Think about how they added to your life and you to theirs, and while it may be sad to do so for a few minutes, it should also make you smile knowing that you shared so much love and joy with that person for the time you spent together. As Queen Elizabeth II said, “Grief is the price we pay for love.”

 

Are you maintaining your health and a healthy lifestyle? Or are you facing challenges that may have come with aging or in some cases were self-inflicted because you still smoke, or overindulge and have gone up another size in the clothes you wear? Did you promise that you’d start or maintain an exercise program but just didn’t keep it going? Do you know who’s responsible for any of these setbacks? That’s right, you are! And you can do things to make the coming year better by taking “baby steps” in a direction that will make you a happier, healthier person. Just be persistent. 

“Once you realize that you can do something, it would be difficult to live with yourself if you didn’t do it.” James Baldwin

 

Did you face disappointment when someone you thought was a friend wasn’t there for you when you really needed them, and did someone you didn’t expect step up to be there for you when the chips were down? “Remember, anyone can love you when the sun is shining. In the storms is where you learn who really cares.” Snoopy & the Peanuts Gang

 

As I and this column close out another year, I want to thank you for your loyal readership and support, because without you Senior LifeStyles would have been discontinued long ago. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a New Year that fulfills you with friendship, love, health, and happiness. The path to those goals is not always smooth, and the occasional storm may be part of the months ahead. When that happens, keep the following quote in mind: 

“Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path.” Anonymous

 

Ron Kauffman is a Consultant & Expert Speaker on Issues of Aging. You may contact him by phone at (828) 696-9799 or by email at: drron561@gmail.com