On some level, I guess we all dislike change. In fact, for most of our lives, we have done everything in our power to find stability. Most of us looked for “safe” jobs. We tried to get our family to “safe” neighborhoods. Now that we are 60, we are told to put our investments in something “safe.” In all of these cases, the word safe also means predictable.
There’s a big problem though. Change is a part of life. No matter how well we try to protect ourselves from it, change is always waiting just around the corner. This is especially true after 60 when our social roles are changing, we are leaving our careers and our bodies require more effort to keep in shape.
Talking with the members of community, I have found two general reactions to change. Most women are afraid of change and the older they get the more cautious they become. A minority of women see life after 60 as an opportunity to stop being afraid. These women get out into the world and explore their passions. After all, they think, “what have I got to lose?”
As I think about this question, I am reminded of a quote by Lao Tse, who said “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them – that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Please take a few minutes to join the conversation and “like” and share this article to keep the discussion going.
Do you find yourself more or less willing to accept change as you get a little older? Do you agree or disagree that a fear of change is one of the main reasons that people fail to find happiness after 60? Why or why not?
LEARN MORE
Watch this short video that I recorded on finding happiness after 60.
