Senior to Senior: Feel the Joy

Bring back the joy. Feel the joy. It’s a buzz word today; it’s a feeling, and what a feeling it is! There is something to be said about feelings of joy, they make you feel optimistic and hopeful. It’s Infectious to say the least. Unhappiness, worry, and stress all point toward mental health issues. We have allowed, quite unwittingly, doom and gloom to invade our lives. As a result, we worry about everything, and unfortunately It has affected the way we look at our world. How do we bring joy back into our lives? Can we drop feelings of negativity and look to the future with optimism and joy? A Senior’s future is limited, and we acknowledge that, which makes living joyfully so important. Look inward first. Recognize that a negative attitude makes everything seem worse than it is. While optimism is infectious, pessimism is equally powerful, and it wants to bring you down. What you say and how you say it sends a powerful message. The moment you hear yourself say words like I wish, should, might or can’t, you need to close your mouth with a snap. Substitute active words like I can, or I will. It might surprise you. Besides nixing negative language, practice awakening your senses. Look around you and let nature be your guide. Since the beginning, humans have lived by their senses and for a very good reason. Focus fully on what you are doing at every moment of the day. There is joy to be had in every task. Look for it as you smell the roses, watch a hummingbird, or listen to the sound of children laughing. Give someone a hug or hold their hand. Feel the joy. Do something joyful today, whether it is phoning a friend, smiling at a stranger, or patting a puppy on the head. Instead of focusing on what is wrong, think of what you can do to make things right. Be joyful. Remember who you are. Relax. Breathe. Stand up straight. Look after your body, wear your favorite colors, enjoy a steaming shower, and acknowledge how wonderful you are.