“The oldest people in America are the happiest according to a study by Yang Yang, a University of Chicago sociologist. About 28,000 people aged 18 to 88 took part in the study. Yang Yang said that older people developed lower expectations and higher acceptance of others, increasing their appreciation of life. However, other studies also show that happier people live longer, so it is interesting to consider whether this particular group became happier as time went on or always were basically happy which led to their longevity.

The longer you live the more circumstances change. Your attitude about it all is what makes the difference in your well-being. Taking everything in stride is good for your health. Proverbs 17:22 says, ” A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.” When you focus on your blessings, you feel more content with the many gifts around you. In their book, Life Lessons, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler say, “A grateful person is a powerful person, for gratitude generates power. All abundance is based on being grateful for what we have” (103).

(Excerpt from Young in the Spirit. Spiritual Strengthening for Seniors and Caregivers. This book is available from Amazon.com, ACTA Publications, and my website. You can find more posts on senior living on my Young in the Spirit Facebook page.)