As seniors we have the opportunity to spend our time at almost anything we desire.
So it is vitally important to select what you want to do and how much time you want to spend in your various activities.
Now is the time for fulfilling dreams, finding new activities, expanding yourself, truly changing your views and way of life.
Can people really change? Yes, absolutely.
You can change with motivation, persistence, and using effective tools for change.
First, let's look at some of the barriers to changing your life.
Are you in that group who believes that you can't change your major ideas or your personality enough to make any difference in your life? Essentially you are saying that because I'm negative about change it won't or can't happen.
In that case you would be right.
So your first objective to enter this new world is to make certain you eliminate your negativity.
Know right now that you can change and believe it.
This would be the first change you make.
Believing you have the mental power to change.
If you are shaking your head even as you read this you are merely reinforcing your negativity.
Stand up and say loudly, shout if necessary, that's enough of that negative stuff (if you're alone you can use expletives).
Convince yourself that you want your life to be different.
How do I overcome my tendency to procrastinate may be your next question? Strongly as possible tell yourself that you can do what you want.
Don't set impossible goals.
After all you have already lived 65 plus years.
Give yourself a break, a true break, from the past.
You're retired.
Believe that this is the time for flying.
Yes, flying.
Call it what you want, but it's getting up a head of steam and telling yourself you can do whatever you want.
No matter what has been your past.
You're now in a free zone, a period that you fully control.
Act like a general, not a private.
Order yourself to stand up and salute the new you.
The positive you.
The new-found, fun-loving you.
You don't have to smell the flowers.
You are the flowers.
Use whatever words or language you want but get up and do it.
NOW And my final question to get you started on this new path is to imagine what are the activities or mental or physical changes that you most want to accomplish? It helps to write them down That should be a no-brainer but if you see your retirement in a negative way then it might take a bit of inner urging or giving yourself a swift kick in the pants to focus on this question.
Yet without some sense of direction early in this game of change you'll quickly put up obstacles.
Can't you hear yourself utter painfully or wistfully or even endearingly, say, "I'll do it tomorrow.
Just sitting here doing nothing is all I want.
OK I'll do it, but as my reward to change I'll just have one more chocolate.
Oh well, maybe just another piece.
Hmm.
It feels so good just sitting here, doing nothing and there are so many programs on TV.
That's enough for me.
" What was the last show I saw? It's name? Well, let me see what was it? What was it about? Anyway, that's not important.
It's better than trying to write something to someone, anyone.
What, me paint a picture? I might like it you say.
Never tried it? I'm too old? What you're 68 years old.
Or 78 or 88.
What have I done since I've been retired.
Lots.
I see my kids, and love my grandchildren,.
Took a few trips.
I've thought about starting a new garden, I used to write poems in high school.
Too much trouble.
You get the idea.
And that's my primer for changing your life.
Simple as ABC.
But not in a foreign language.
So this is your time to forge that new path, find new directions.
Locate new venues, activities, walk when the sun is rising knowing that each day after the sunset that it will rise again.
When you get up in the morning say to yourself, loudly and clearly, "another day to fly.
" And look up into the sky when you utter those fateful words.
Another day to fly.