Living it Large for Baby-Boomers
It's easy for the young to look good. In my twenties I didn't have to do anything. I was blessed with hair in the right places, a resilient skeletal structure and skin elasticity. I took it all for granted.
Now in my later years I could keep up appearances with a massive array of cosmetics, cruises and positive ageing packages. I could hop over to the Saga website where the company says it serves the needs of people over 50+. 2.4 million of them. It's certainly selling plenty and making a profit of over £100 million for its shareholders.
But I don't have the money and I don't want to go on a cruise anyway. So where is the stuff that might serve me in the latter half of my life?
Connection to community is really important as I grow older. Statistics show that isolation and loneliness is increasing common in 50+. It can take effort to get connected but in Sussex we have a great choice of creative workshops, choirs, dance classes or social groups.
Connection to community can bring a strong sense of wellbeing and it needn't cost a penny. In my 60's I joined a mentoring charity called A Band Of Brothers that mentors young men coming out of prison. I made great friends and had the best times of my life. There are hundreds of volunteering opportunities out there. It takes courage to leave your comfort zone but the rewards can be priceless.
Yoga, tai-chi and meditation tend to be more about the connection to your physical and metaphysical self. To find calm, peace-of-mind and that sweet spot of stillness takes discipline. But what else are you going to do with your time if a cruise to a soulless tourist destination is not an option?
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7 AGES CIC is a consciousness raising community providing leadership workshops, meetings and talks. https://www.7ages.org/workshops. Please get in touch; info@7ages.org