Excerpt from Daily Cures, Wisdom for Healthy Aging by connie Mason Michaelis
I recently participated in a mental exercise that helps individuals focus on what they really want in life. Find a nice quiet time and space and sit down with a blank piece of paper. Ask yourself this question, “What do I want to do (or have) in my life?” Try your best to write 100 things that you want. Be as specific as you can. Don’t write down, “I want a million dollars.” Write down what you’d do with a million dollars. In this exercise, money and time are no object; all things are possible. You just write. You may have difficulty starting, but you’ll soon get on a roll. These desires can be tangible, or they may be intangible, like love or forgiveness. Just keep writing. It is similar to a bucket list but much broader.
Starting with this list, you can begin to design a lifestyle that encompasses these desires. Frequently, seniors feel so limited by their circumstances that they forget what they want. Most have been preoccupied with taking care of others. The older we become, the more we may succumb to the thought that we no longer have choices. Because of health or financial issues, we somehow get stuck. I encourage people daily to paint a new picture of their senior years. What would you like it to look like? Are you looking for a family atmosphere, new friends, and a beautiful place to call home? Are you looking for peaceful surroundings? Do you want freedom from responsibilities? Would you like to have a housekeeper? Would you like to eat delicious meals prepared by your personal chef? Do you want music and laughter? Do you want something to look forward to every day of your life? Do you want to feel safe and secure? Rather than feeling guilty about your desires, you can embrace your dreams and design a life that satisfies your longings.
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