New Year’s resolutions for New Seniors

Posted on January 6th, 2011 by admin

Besides welcoming boomers as they turn 65 to the ranks of New Seniors, there are a number of commitments we can make to ourselves, our families and the communities in which we live. It’s already 2011, so we need to take action now.

Image by Sascha Grant via Flickr

Spending more time with those we love is certainly number one on most lists. When we were pursing our careers, we used to talk about spending with quality time with loved ones. Well it’s all quality time if you are with them physically and mentally. That was hard to do when work was foremost in our minds. Many New Seniors don’t have this distraction any more, so we can give loved ones our undivided attention.

While you’re at it, do something good for yourself. Turn off the TV and read a book. Put down the book and pick up the pace by engaging in a little exercise. We need to be active and not let any moving parts rust due to lack of use. We’re past the time when our bodies were a way to get noticed, but keeping the weight down and the energy up are important to how we may feel in the years ahead.

Find new interests. Learn to play the piano. If you already know how to do that maybe being a gourmet cook is the right thing to do. Whatever you do be sure to share it with others. Better yet involve them in this new activity, even if it means they’ll simply be an audience or the recipient of your efforts.

Reach out to other New Seniors. This includes both those younger and older than you. It will provide more diverse points-of-view for you to consider. New Seniors have evolved as a result of their individual life experiences. You can learn much from others, and they from you. Just be willing to listen to opposing views.

Decide what’s important and what’s not. Many New Seniors have taken an interest in the issues that have a direct affect on us such as personal finances, health care and political activities on all levels – federal, state and local. After all, we need to manage our money, be in charge of overseeing the quality of our individual health care and hold our elected representatives responsible for their actions.

We can be most effective by connecting with other New Seniors and then uniting to get things done on our behalf. Remember, those 65+ accounted for nearly one out of every four votes cast in the recent elections. With that kind of clout, which will continue to grow as the boomers turn 65 at the rate of one every ten seconds, “platinum power” is not just a catchy phrase it is a reality.

So get the New Year off to a good start by starting to do some good things for you and others. America needs your experience, wisdom and spirit to help the country get back on track. While those trailing us may be concentrating on work, our focus can be on what we learned on the way to becoming New Seniors. Together, we can help to ensure that these values remain part of the American way of life.