A Second Wind: Gratitude and Graceful Aging

By Mary Petersen

Signal Contributing Writer

With Thanksgiving approaching, we are prompted to consider what we are grateful for. I’m grateful that we’ve finally escaped the blistering summer heat and are easing into cooler months, shorter days, and earlier nights. Our daughter is responding well to chemo treatments. We’re tremendously grateful for that. We have strong family love and support for which we are truly grateful. When things are going well, it seems easier to feel gratitude. When we’re facing misfortune, it’s harder to generate appreciation for the blessings of each day.

When adversity strikes, however, that is when feeling gratitude can be most beneficial. A number of studies indicate that a grateful spirit can promote a feeling of empowerment and reduce feelings of helplessness during challenging times. Expressing gratitude can diminish stress and strengthen emotional resilience.

Ironically, not only does gratitude help manage periods of loss and hardship. Distressing times of loss and hardship create a heightened sense of gratitude. According to psychologist Mary Pipher, “Tragedy often catapults people toward gratitude whereas constant good fortune can actually make it hard to feel grateful. Privileged people may habituate to a comfortable, easy life.”

Interestingly, gratitude seems to increase with age. We might think that older adults would feel less gratitude and have difficulty savoring life, but perhaps because they have more life experience and more familiarity with sadness and loss, their capacity for feeling and expressing gratitude seems to expand.

One 2017 study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology reported that the experience of gratitude was greatest in older adults, compared to other age groups. Older adults understand adversity in a way that adolescents and younger adults cannot. Researchers speculate that older people may be more aware that life is short, and that can lead to feelings of gratitude. Older people may simply have more time to contemplate and cultivate gratitude. A growing body of research is focused on how expressing gratitude can help people age with a sense of well-being and life satisfaction. Gratitude is a powerful tool for helping older adults face the challenges of aging including dealing with loss, facing “Tragedy often catapults people illness, or the need to depend on others for help. toward gratitude Choosing to rewhereas constant spond with gratitude can create a sense of good fortune can control, positivity and actually make it hard to feel even increased self-esteem. Physiologically, studies show that gratgrateful.” itude can help lower blood pressure and — Mary Pipher improve immunity. Psychologist When people take time to reflect back on their lives, the joyous and sorrowful times, they appreciate what they’ve come through, and they often feel gratitude. That, in turn, helps clarify how they want to live their lives going forward. Robert Emmons, psychology professor at UC Davis, says, “Gratitude has one of the strongest links to mental health and satisfaction with life of any personality trait — more than even optimism, hope or compassion.” Gratitude can make people healthier, happier and more satisfied with life. When we feel gratitude and share it with others, it enhances our appreciation. This Thanksgiving let us revel in the joy of gathering in gratitude for what is valuable and meaningful in our lives. Mary Petersen is a retired COC English instructor, a 30-year SCV resident and two-time breast cancer survivor. 

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