Seniors are a varied lot and nailing down what is most important to them would be like drawing an amoeba. In fact, if you Google the subject you will be treated to a plethora of related articles about it.

They are all informative. But most are written by observers, i.e., nurses, doctors, carers, old-age experts or anybody who has had close contacts with the elderly.

Except a few, like Sixty and Me, which writes from first-hand experience, most are so peripheral and detached.

I am a senior citizen and I know what is most important to me. But I would be remiss to write about them. That would be too self-serving unless I get inputs from other seniors to make it more credible and reflective of what they consider most important.

To do that I posted the question on two senior citizens’ Facebook pages, the Seniors Community of the Philippines and the Universal Senior Citizens’ Community.

Their reaction was spontaneous and informative. Though my method was unscientific, it doesn’t diminish the value of the information I gathered directly from the “horses’ mouth,” so to speak.

I culled their answers and summarized them below:

1.  Health:
Health is important to all, regardless of age. But as one gets old and starts feeling its effects, i.e., cognitive decline, changes in metabolism, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, blood sugar problems and so forth, it becomes a game-changer.

It cannot be taken for granted anymore, but the core of everything you do.

Health and fitness do not only slow down the effects of aging, it improves strength and balance, reduces cholesterol and blood pressure, among other things.

It is a priceless commodity as one approaches the twilight of his life.

2.  Relationship with the Creator:
A personal relationship with God, Creator or a Higher Power matters more than any kind of relationship anybody can have.

People change and they are unreliable even in the best of times; they come and go in your life.

But the Almighty remains steadfast and unchanging. He is always there waiting for you to beckon over to your side. He lifts you up when you are down and gives you strength when you need it the most.

And He will not abandon you even in your most desolate moments. Ronald Reagan said, “We are never defeated unless we give up on God.”

3.  Family and Friends:
Close Family and friends are God’s manifestation of His presence in us. They are invaluable,  especially when they become fewer and rarer.

I have two kids – a girl and a boy – and I can count with my fingers my “real” friends.

They may be few but they are all I need. Without them, life would be more barren as the driest desert on Earth. My family and friends have made life a wonderful experience.

And that’s how important they are. They make you whole. They make you feel safe and secure, and they keep you away from making a monkey of yourself.

Family and friends cheer you up when things are down, or pull you down back to the ground when you are way over your head.

They make you who and what you are.

4.  Peace of Mind, Happiness and Stress-free living:
Peace of mind is “a state of mental and emotional calmness, with no worries, fears or stress. In this state, the mind is quiet, and you experience a sense of happiness and freedom.” 

Achieving it takes a conscious effort and practice – so is controlling stress.

So between the two, you very well know where to spend that effort if you want to enjoy your retirement years.

5.  Freedom:
This is my most important.

A year after my wife died, my daughter asked me to marry again. My answer was a spontaneous “No.”

My reasons are: first, it is not that easy to replace a woman I was married to for more than 37 years and, second, I was beginning to enjoy the freedom.

It is not selfishness but the desire to live the rest of my life the way I see fit.

And I an oddball? Maybe, but there are no less than 12 million Americans aged 65 and above who prefer to live alone.

These days living alone is no longer a pathological disorder but a lifestyle.

Besides, the wide use of the Internet and smartphones has made living alone possible without being isolated.

Now I drink alone, take long drives alone, spend an evening in a remote island alone – all without having to cater to anybody else’s whims and desires.

Isn’t that great?

Please share with other seniors.

~oOo~

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