People who always see the glass as half full are the ones who find something positive in any given situation. They live in stark contrast to those who manage to find the negative aspects in everything they experience in life.
Those who fall into the former category aren’t just more pleasant to spend time with: they enjoy life to the fullest, no matter how old they are. When they get to retirement age, they maintain the positive habits they cultivated in their younger years, as well as cultivating some wonderful new ones, too. Here’s how:
1. They turn “I have to” into “I still can!”
Many retirees get depressed about the various things they need to do as they get older. For example, they may feel despondent about the smorgasbord of various pills and potions they need to take or slather on themselves on a daily basis, the strict diets they need to adhere to, the daily exercises that bore them to tears, and so on.
Retirees who always see the glass as half full turn this perspective around so they celebrate the opportunity to keep doing these things, regardless of how irritating they may be at times. One of my partner’s relatives is a vibrant man in his 70s who loves running, cross-country skiing, and other physical activities. Although he has battled cancer and heart disease, he never lets that get him down. Instead, he remains as active as possible with the energy and strength that he has on any given day, because he still can.
2. They take on challenges with curiosity and humor.
Few things can dispel the discomfort of aging like making a joke out of it. Laughing at adversity is a good habit to get into, as it strengthens the mind and heart for trials yet to come. If you’re sharing this burden with your partner or close friends, chuckling about it all together, it can be like sharing a small fire against the cold. It’s rubbish, but at least you’re together and making a joke out of it all.
Similarly, by remaining curious, you can keep an open mind about what may unfold rather than assuming that you know how things will pan out and getting anxious about your assumptions. None of us can ever predict exactly how things will go, so those who remain neutral and curious, seeing the glass as half full, allow space for good things to happen instead of always assuming the worst.
3. They focus on preserving and improving what they have.
I have an extended family member who, upon retiring, promptly plopped himself in a reclining chair and has barely moved since. As a result, his muscles atrophied in a matter of months, and he can now barely walk around without assistance, let alone stand up on his own. He has always been a pessimistic sort, and as soon as he retired, he gave up on everything other than watching sports and grumbling all day.
This is in stark contrast to the glass-is-half-full types who make a point of preserving what they still have and improving what they can. These folks go for early morning walks with the dog to go get coffee, do yoga in the afternoons, play memory games, do strength training, and eat as well as possible. Basically, they’re doing everything they can to retain their strength and health for as long as they can as they age.
4. They have a wonderful time with close friends.
These people often have a few very close friends with whom they stay in touch through thick and thin. They’ll visit each other regularly and share everything from luncheons and book club meetings to BBQs and camping trips. Folks like these recognize that not only is there a lot to enjoy and look forward to in retirement, but they have the opportunity to do so with the people they love the most.
Friendship is one of the greatest gifts life has to offer, and retirees who always look on the bright side treasure their “people” beyond measure. These folks use the free time they have in retirement and use it to catch up on all the time they missed out on spending together when they were working 40+ hours a week.
5. They focus on gratitude.
Another commonality among retirees who can remain upbeat is to keep in mind all the wonderful things they have. It could be the beautiful garden they’re cultivating on their property, their wonderful grandkids, the piles of books they get to enjoy, or the great friends they get to spend time with.
Any time they start to feel disheartened by the challenges that advancing years bestow, they take a moment to refocus on all the goodness they still get to experience. They can still taste amazing meals, see well enough to work on their crafts, walk in the sunshine, and swim in the sea. These abilities are beautiful, and they’re worth focusing on.
6. They live with a clarity about the benefits of maturing.
Rather than bemoan the fact that they feel they cannot do this or that, retirees who always see the glass as half full can look back at their younger selves and clearly recognize that the things they are missing were really not that engaging or exciting anyway.
They don’t miss the manic rush of youth, the confusion of not knowing really who they were, or any of the trivialities that seemed so terribly important at the time. Instead, they can fully lean into the authenticity of their full, mature selves and do exactly what it is that really brings them joy.
One of the greatest things about getting older is that other people’s opinions really don’t matter that much anymore, so if anybody sees fit to judge them about the pursuits that bring them bliss, they don’t care a whit.
7. They prioritize comfort and joy.
Much of the time, retirees who always seem to have a positive outlook make a priority of ensuring that they’re comfortable and happy in their post-work lives. For example, they may stock the pantry with foods and snacks that they love, have several pairs of their favorite slippers, or a well-worn chair that they curl up in daily to read or work on their crosswords.
By having all of these little, rather humble things in place, they create a “soft place” that they can use to regroup so they have the energy needed to navigate later life’s more difficult challenges.
The years they spent working 9-5 also taught them valuable lessons about what they want to prioritize now that their time is their own. They turn down invitations to things that they aren’t interested in, so they can prioritize the things that make them happier, and they can partake in special events like staying up late to catch a meteor shower rather than skipping that because their alarm was going to go off in a few hours’ time.
8. They have patience with themselves rather than frustration.
Retirees who see the glass as half full are often far more patient with themselves than they were in their younger years. In their 20s or 30s, they might have gotten frustrated — even enraged — if they made a mistake or failed at something that was important to them. Those who have matured as they’ve aged, in contrast, offer themselves far more grace.
Let’s say that they discover that they’re not quite as capable at something as they used to be. Instead of wasting energy and time getting frustrated and angry, they regroup and find a less demanding method of achieving their objectives. Rather than fighting to do the task the same way they did thirty-plus years ago, they find a different route to get there. They extend the same patience to themselves as they do to their grandchildren: unconditional love and acceptance, and the knowledge that they’ll get there eventually, in their own way.
Final thoughts…
Due to our youth-obsessed culture, many people get seriously depressed about what life after retirement may look like. They equate their lack of productivity with uselessness and focus on all the negativity around them instead of all the positive things that retirement can bring.
In contrast, those with a more positive mindset realize that being free from the daily grind gives them the opportunity to restructure their life around pleasure and leisure rather than obligation and output. As such, the positive habits they’ve cultivated will serve them well into their later years, filling their days with beauty and immeasurable fulfilment.
