Feeling a little depressed? You are not alone. There’s a pandemic going on, not the first and probably not the last, but still, it’s a lot to take in. Seniors have seen it all before, and for the most part, are coping better than most.
How do you deal? It’s lonely and people can accidently make you sick. Still, you have jobs, classes, volunteer work, grandchildren to spoil, and other responsibilities to keep you on your toes. It’s okay to be depressed; it doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with you.
Some say that older adults experience more depression and loneliness than others, but research suggests otherwise. Resilience, built up over a lifetime, has actually made you stronger. Yes, you are spending less time with people close to you, but in many instances, you are communicating more with family and friends than you have in years.
What has changed in your life? Before the pandemic, having a busy life was thought to be a status symbol, but was it? You now have time to touch bases with yourself again. You no longer spend more time in your car than at the breakfast table. No more failed relationships; you can either bubble with someone near and dear, or allow shaky relationships die a natural death.
You should be feeling less stressed. Fewer places to go, fewer obligations, and fewer items on your to-do list. You have time to eat better, shop less, enjoy time with your family, and communicate with others at home and away. You are spending less money, reading more, listening more, and finding out what is truly important.
Life has slowed to a crawl; embrace this revelation and make it last. Experts have been telling you to slow down for years, and many of you have tried, but to no avail. Learn to be grateful for the little things and to focus on what is good in your good life.
People have been through rough times before and they have survived. Resilience prevails; have faith that somehow you will make it through another day, despite the difficulties.