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By Susan K. Gower No matter what her age, Pat Samples will never be old. For the past 17 years, Samples, a coordinator for Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network, has championed positive personal transformation for older adults. She writes, lectures all across the country, and conducts classes, retreats, teleseminars, and one-on-one sessions to help people lead more vibrant lives. Like everyone, Samples is progressing through life and that means aging, but it’s hard to imagine someone like Samples as ever being old. How do some people stay young? The key is keeping a youthful attitude, no matter what your age. Karen Greer, a retirement, life and career coach from Minnetonka, helps many people make a happy and successful transition into retirement. “People talk the language of being old,” Greer says. “In our culture, it is a strong message, everything from jokes on birthday cards to black balloons at a birthday party. How we see ourselves is brought out by the language we use. Language gives us clues about attitudes, such as when people refer to themselves as an old lady or old man. But the language we use is one critical thing we can change. It really makes a difference.” Keeping a positive attitude may be the single most important technique to staying youthful. It may mean making a conscious effort to smile, laugh, or be playful. You may feel that your attitude is determined by your circumstances, but in most cases, it is the other way around. We tend to assume that calm, cheerful people have fewer or less serious problems than those we face. Usually this is not the case. It is more likely that these are people who maintain a hopeful attitude in the face of trials. They may also have mastered simple techniques for managing their stress. In times of stress, they may get more rest, meditate or take walks. Ever listened to someone recite the story of an old injury? A slight, or insult, a wrong that occurred years, even decades ago, but they just can’t let go of it? Try letting go of a grudge and forgive – it will make you feel young. Maintaining a positive attitude and a youthful approach to life can be a challenge - you have to work at it. It helps to stay interested in the world around you. Never stop being curious. Find a new interest or renew old one. If you don’t know what you want to do, take a look at some of the adult education offerings through your local community or university. An active pursuit of learning keeps your mind sharp and brings you into contact with other stimulating people. According to Pat Samples, there is a growing demand in senior communities for the creative arts. “Some people want to try something they left behind as a kid, like piano lessons, or acting. Others want to learn something important to them – something they never had the courage to try.” Samples also teaches memoir writing to seniors, so they can leave a legacy of memory for their families and friends. “The arts are a great way to find meaning and purpose in your life and to make a contribution to the community in an artistically interesting way. People who participate in the arts tend to be vibrant and full of life.” The guiding principle of the Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network is that “older people can improve their health, enrich their lives, and contribute to the artistic culture of a community through active participation in creative arts activities.” Research shows that, due to changes in the brain, we tend to have a creative spurt at midlife. Recently, the network co-produced The Creative Power of Aging with Twin Cities Public Television and launched a statewide campaign: Creativity Matters for Older Minnesotans. The Creative Power of Aging is a half-hour film that illustrates the benefits of creative expression for older adults. “Every time we get a chance to, we should put the aging process in a positive spin,” says Karen Greer. “We need to surround ourselves with people who are looking at aging in a positive way. I try not to allow people I interact with to get to that negative place.” Greer feels that aging has been a positive experience for her. “I’m better at knowing how to have fun. I’m better at making choices that are good for me. As we get older, we are less pushed by culture and more by what is positive for us. Recently, I was at a gathering of about a hundred people. Someone was talking about music and how much they loved to dance and sing. One gal brought up a wonderful song - one of my absolute favorites. I got up next to the singer and sang along. I want to show how much I enjoy singing. I loved the music and wanted to go for it. We can do anything we want. The possibilities are limited only by our imagination.”
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Putting Old on Hold