Research shows that having a positive attitude towards aging can actually add almost 8 years to your life span! Researchers believe that a positive attitude increases a person’s will to live.

Individuals with a positive attitude actually seem to be more proactive about their health and well being. In fact, the benefits of a positive attitude are not only improved health, but those with a positive attitude enjoy stronger personal relationships. They also experience less stress and are more productive individuals.

An aging senior with a positive attitude, takes responsibility for their successes and failures. They have an “I can do this” attitude. Those with a positive attitude reevaluate situations, determine what outside force was responsible for their failure and find solutions to lead them to a successful outcome. 

They do not take failure personally and revel in the part they played when they are successful. The good news is, a positive attitude can be learned. You can rewire your thinking and start enjoying better health and less stress in your life. 

Tips to finding happiness in everyday living 
Tips to finding happiness in everyday living 

“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Abraham Lincoln

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

“The world of those who are happy is different from the world of those who are not.” Ludwig Wittgenstein

When you come to the realization you have control over how you feel and your thoughts, you can make a choice to find happiness in everyday things. How we react to everyday situations determines our happiness level.

Here are a few tips to finding happiness in everyday life:

• Practice positive affirmations, in doing so, you can rewire your thinking to change from negative thinking to positive thinking.
• Remember, your thoughts become things, make them good ones.Surround yourself with positive energy. Listen to uplifting music, read books that promote positive thinking and develop relationships with positive people.

Identify your strengths and acknowledge your shortcomings. Work on both to improve yourself. Consciously make an effort to change your thought process to see the positive in everyday living. Over a period of time, your thoughts will become your reality. Make them positive ones! 

Resource: ElderHope 
ElderHope provides written materials, downloads that deal with grief,loss and caregiving, and online classes. www.elderhope.com 

Leaving on a Positive Note: Positive thoughts on aging
• One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young
• Yeah, being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.
• One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been.
• The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.
• Some people try to turn back their body’s odometers. Not me, I want people to know “why” I look this way.
• I’ve traveled a long way and some of the roads weren’t paved.
• Maturity means being emotionally and mentally healthy. It is that time when you know when to say yes and when to say no, and when to say “WHOOPEE!”
• How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
• When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of algebra.
• I don’t know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.
• Age seldom arrives smoothly or quickly. It is more often a succession of jerks.

If you have not heard C-Span is covering the President’s Healthcare Summit this Thursday 2/25/2010, check your local listings for times. Hopefully we can come out of the broadcast knowing the facts.

Can’t wait? Check out these sites in the mean time:

http://www.healthreform.gov/

http://www.whitehouse.gov/Issues/health-Care

We will post on Friday with our thoughts of the Summit, and we would like to hear from you.

Our hopes are to keep you talking… whether to us, loved ones, friends, coworkers or if you prefer, strangers. Who knows what the chats will bring but we are surely excited to find out and optimistic that you will join us on this continuing voyage of insightful exploration.

Make sure to tune in for our first themed based entry; the one thing on everyone’s mind… the undeniably unavoidable Health Care Reform. For it? Against it? Know the facts, check out HealthReform.gov for what’s new on the subject.

“I’m a great believer that any tool that enhances communication has profound effects in terms of how people can learn from each other, and how they can achieve the kind of freedoms that they’re interested in.” ~ Bill Gates