Farewell to Summer

CELEBRATING THE TRANSITIONS OF AGE

It's funny how decades after we see our children through school, our lives still seem to revolve around the school calendar. June through August feel like the right time for summer vacation, the ocean is finally warm enough for a swim, and you're free to visit family far and wide. Summer is an exciting and energizing time that can leave us all craving the rest and recovery that fall brings—the chance to breathe deeply, recover, and prepare for the coming holidays.

The transition into fall reminds me that we're always in transition. Just when it starts to feel like life is in a groove (or a rut for some), things begin to change. Work changes, our relationships evolve, new inspiration hits us, and we're shot into the direction of the next season of our lives. Our evolution is constant, better than the alternative, as they say, but transitions in your later years can feel different. When we're young, each new transition brings new responsibilities and often more autonomy over our bodies and our lives. As we age, it can feel like we're moving in the wrong direction. We're often asked to hand over our power and autonomy to the children and grandchildren we raised. My question is simple. How does one survive the transitions of aging with grace, autonomy, and joy intact?

WHEN RETIREMENT COMES CALLING

Retirement is one of the most significant transitions many people will go through in life (assuming you're able or interested). Most people work continuously from ages 20 through at least 65. That's at least 45 years in the workforce, often in careers that become a part of your identity. Then, at the ripe age of 65 (give or take), you're expected to set it down and move on.

The thing about work, though it's not always fun, is that it provides a sense of meaning and purpose to our lives. When we cut the tether that linked us to our identity as a teacher, accountant, or farmer, we have to find new places to attach ourselves, or else we feel like we're floating away.

Find a place to serve.

I can only imagine the incredible depth and breadth of knowledge and experience combined in all the people who will read this article. Your years of work experience gave you hands-on practical knowledge about your chosen field and wisdom that you can only cultivate with time. It's a shame to let all of that knowledge go to waste. If you can find a place to stay connected and use your time and talents for the benefit of others, you'll continue to feel purposeful and motivated once the reality of retirement sinks in.

Make sure you have a good community.

One of the many benefits of work is the builtin community. You go to work each day and are guaranteed to connect with coworkers, clients, and customers. For some people, losing these connections during retirement can be lonesome. Find ways to connect with people. Religious groups, clubs, or service organizations are great places to start.

Allow yourself time to adjust.

The retirement transition can be a doozy! Remember that retirement marks a complete 180-degree lifestyle and identity shift for many people. Be gentle and patient with yourself. It may take you time to adjust to your new normal. And, for heaven's sake, enjoy it!

OUR BODIES, THEY ARE A-CHANGING

At some point in midlife, each of us will have a revelation that our body is changing and will never be what it once was. Whether it's noticing your first wrinkle or coming to terms with the fact that you can't keep up with your grandkids the way you once could, adjusting to your changing body can be a harsh realization. Aging is hard, but as they say, it's better than the alternative!

Prioritize your health.

The best way to smooth the aging transition within your body is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle means different things to different people, but the essential factors are diet, exercise, sleep, and stress regulation. Taking care of your body is key to ensuring that your body will take good care of you as you age. Talk to your physician about a diet and exercise routine that will help mitigate the effects of aging and help you navigate your changing body.

Be realistic about your expectations.

You may have been a marathon runner or a competitive gymnast in your youth, but there's a good chance your aging body won't allow you to keep up the same level of effort as you age. Be realistic with yourself about what you can do. Treat your body kindly and find attainable types of exercise as your body goes through the many transitions of age. That you exercise is more important than how you exercise.

THE BIG RELOCATION

One of the last significant transitions that many aging people make is moving from the home they love into a smaller house, perhaps an assisted living or retirement facility. Even when you're confident that you're making the right decision and are excited to live in a home more suited to your lifestyle, transitioning to a new home can be a tough pill to swallow.

As with any transition, allowing yourself to experience the feelings that come up is essential. Grief is a normal part of significant life changes, and it's perfectly normal and sometimes necessary to walk through it. Here are some things that may help ease your transition and pass from grief to excitement for your new life.

Make it feel like home.

Make sure to arrange your space with items that make you feel comfortable and at home. Your house may feel like a temple to all of your favorite family memories. But you'll find that many of those beautiful memories live on in the treasured items that adorn your walls. Once you've landed in your new space, fill your walls with family photographs and fill the space with heirloom furniture, and you'll feel at home in no time.

Invite loved ones in

Your new space may feel foreign at first, be it an assisted living facility or a downsized home. The best way to warm it up is to fill it with brand new memories. Invite your friends and family to fill it with warmth and laughter and make brand new memories. Opening your doors to loved ones is an easy way to ease the transition into a new living situation.

Make it perfectly you.

Have you always wanted a craft room, library, or home gym? There is no better time to create the space you want than when transitioning into a new home. In the past, you considered every member of your family's needs when planning your home. Now, as you transition into the home where you plan to age gracefully, you can make it perfectly and authentically you.

As we welcome the end of summer, I can't help but think about the transitions ahead of us. We'll pack away our summer clothes and turn down the air conditioning in the coming months. We'll bid farewell to daylight savings once again and prepare for darker evenings and more time spent cozying up inside. Ancient wisdom reminds us there is a season for everything. Let's all agree to welcome this next season with joy and anticipation. The world could use a little more of that.

Adrienne Freeland is a freelance writer who specializes in helping business owners communicate more clearly. Using skills developed in her former career as a professional fundraiser, Adrienne collaborates with her clients to craft engaging, targeted content.