Posted on 02/18/2008 5:01:02 PM PST by blam
Older People Are Happy: Life Begins At 40 And 50 And 60
ScienceDaily (Feb. 18, 2008) Growing old is a happier experience than many of us imagine - thats according to the findings of a study conducted at Queens University, Belfast, on behalf of the Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP).
The study, which was conducted by Dr John Garry from Queens University, looked at young peoples attitudes to happiness in old age and how these attitudes affect their current health-related behaviour.
Dr Garry said: We have all heard the saying life begins at forty. But it seems that many people, particularly young people, actually associate growing old with being miserable, meaning they dont see any benefit in preserving their health for old age.
Young people like to enjoy themselves, but this often means behaving in ways that can damage their future health. The harmful effects of alcohol, smoking and poor diet and fitness are well known, but many young people still binge-drink, smoke, avoid eating fruit and vegetables and fail to do regular exercise.
This study aimed to find out whether this risky behaviour is associated with young peoples estimates of happiness in old age. Are they determined to live it up while they are young because they are convinced that as they grow older they will become more and more miserable?
The research found that, contrary to common belief, old age does not mean a decline in happiness - older people are just as happy as younger people. Whilst many young people associate old age with doom and gloom, this is not the case.
We also found a strong link between the belief that happiness declines with age and levels of binge drinking by young men. It seems that these young men abuse their bodies through alcohol because, as they see it, there is little point in preserving their health for a miserable old age.
Perhaps health professionals should consider this in their efforts to tackle binge drinking amongst young men. By addressing their incorrect perception that growing old is a miserable experience, they may be encouraged to drink more responsibly and take better care of their health.
Archie and Margaret Lindsay, who are celebrating their 44th Valentines Day together, say they are perfectly happy in their old age. The couple attend the Newtownabbey Senior Citizens Forum. Mr Lindsay said: I am surprised that so many young people think that getting older means being unhappy. My wife and I are both in our seventies and are as happy now as we were thirty years ago - and I think many of our friends would say the same. In the end, its not the years in your life that count, its the life in your years!
Its important that young people realise that they can still enjoy life as they get older. As long as they make an effort to look after themselves, theres no reason why they shouldnt look forward to a happy and fulfilled old age.
Adapted from materials provided by Queen's University, Belfast.
Ping.
Who are they calling OLD?
What's the matter? Run out of bandwidth?
Xer Ping
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I remember Rush saying something like that years ago, that he couldn't wait to be 50, because that's when you really start making big bucks, you're starting to peak in your career, and start to wield power and influence in the world. I was about 25 when he said that, but I really understand it now that I'm 40.
Pretty funny, I'm 57 and rarely look in the mirror anymore. But I do enjoy life more than ever and was a mostly happy soul until this election year came along.
Me too!
I’m 43 and my kids are 13 and 4.
I had my daughter when I was 44. I lost my wife when I was 47. I will be 61+ when my daughter gets out of high school. Having my daughter is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me, rearing her alone is the saddest. God has a sense of irony, he waited until I matured to have a child....
I've relaxed even more than my muscles have.
As far as age goes, I was going on 70 and still flying combat missions in a Blackhawk Helicopter in Iraq. My duty was a flight surgeon, but I flew every position including door guns so I may have been the oldest guy to fly a door gun in Iraq. Doctors can carry and fire weapons to protect themselves their crew and patients. so nothing illegal there. Age is just a state of mine, and even though I am now 71, I feel like 21 As the old saying goes if I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself. Jess
Boy ain’t that the truth.
What, you don’t believe I’m 31? :-)
Wow. Thanks for everything Doc. That’s impressive.
I’m 45 next week. Scary to think about the age as a number but really don’t care. I’m in good shape. Ride about 1200 miles on my bike each year and just started backpacking. If all goes right, me and my son and some other scouts will do about 80 miles on the trail this summer.
State of mind.
Good for you! I have an uncle who just turned 94, and that tough old bird was driving himself to the hospital several times a week to do volunteer work until recently. Said it was finally time to “retire” and enjoy life.
The problem in society isn’t growing old, it’s growing up. As long as we mature & progress, we don’t cling desperately to youth.
Certainly I miss the physical advantages of an earlier age (I’m now 51) but I just can’t make the mental trade-off. Back then I was stupid, crazy, & poorly equipped for the outside world. Wouldn’t want to relive that if you paid me.
Excellent...thank you.
When you're 20 you worry what everyone thinks about you.
When you're 40 you don't give a damn what anybody thinks about you.
When you're 60 you realize no one ever thought about you at all.
I've enjoyed every age for the most part, excepting the tragedies that all of us face over the course of years. If I had it to do all over again, I'd make all the same mistakes, only sooner. There was a great preacher down in Austin, Texas, Bill "the mailman" Martin. He said, "You don't run around because your body won't let you. You don't eat fancy foods because your stomach won't let you. You don't drink because your liver won't let you. You're not holy! You're old!"
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