7 minute read
Nina Radcliff, MD
Benefits Of Getting Older That Make You Shine
While there are many jokes made about aging, what people often fail to realize is that it brings greater happiness, more satisfaction, along with other rich qualities and advantages. These, and more, are treasured gifts that make my heart excited to sing to the greatness of aging – and welcome the coming days. Dr. Nina’s What You Need To Know:
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About the Gifts of Aging
Happiness: The older we get, the happier we are! And that’s fact! Research shows that with age, people become generally become more satisfied, less depressed, anxious and stressed. They’re happier. Experts believe this may be due to a number of factors including being more emotionally stable and content as well as having better coping abilities. You are more adept at dealing with hardships and negative circumstances while maintaining focus on savoring relationships and meaningful activities. Wisdom: Defined as “the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment,” it is no wonder that people become wiser with time. As you age, your brain creates connections and recognizes patterns, making you better at problem-solving. And, too, wisdom is a multi-component personality trait that also encompasses qualities such as empathy, compassion, openness to new ideas, decisiveness, emotional regulation, and doing for others. More of the Good Stuff: Countless studies show that through aging, people become more generous, more selfless, and better listeners. While the reasons are not clearly understood, some believe that a chemical reason drives this. Age-related changes in generosity are believed to be due to greater production of oxytocin—a hormone associated with empathy, bonding, and maternal love. Others hypothesize that one gains a broader perspective and focus of efforts on making the world a better place for future generations. Confidence: With time, you become more confident in your ability, while becoming less concerned about what others think. Generally speaking, you’re less likely to succumb to performance motivation—competing against others for upward mobility. Greater Perspective: Over the years, you have the opportunity to gain great knowledge and insight into the dynamics of life. There is a better understanding of emotions and how to manage them. And, by managing your emotions, you gain greater perspective, helping you focus on the big picture and important issues—no longer letting emotional storms distract you from goals. Thus, when presented with challenges (and life is full of them), you know how take a step back and observe situations so you can focus on realistic solutions. Healthier Connections: Having greater perspective, with more empathy, means you’re better able to understand and share the feelings of others. This makes for a better partner, friend, co-worker and family unit. And, with better recognition of the importance and value of time, you are more motivated to make strong emotional connections with others—and are more selective and invest greater resources in meaningful relationships, goals and activities. Additionally, with age, you may find yourself in a caregiver role to an aging family member or loved one, which requires you to perceive and respond to their needs. Less Stress: According to the American Psychological Association’s Annual Stress in America Report, older adults experience the lowest levels of stress, whereas 22-37 year olds continue to have the highest reported stress levels. Good reasons for this likely are from learning to live in the moment, appreciating the present (being mindful), dwelling less on the negative, not overreacting, and focusing more on the positive—a scientific concept known as the socioemotional selectivity theory. Fewer Migraines: Millions of
Americans suffer from the debilitating pain and other symptoms of a migraine—a recurring type of headache. Generally, migraines improve as people enter their 50’s and 60’s. Interestingly, only 10% of women and 5% of men over 70 years still report migraines. Reasons for this include becoming less sensitive to noise, light, smells, and stress. Or if they were linked to hormonal fluctuations in women, the onset of menopause. Better Story-Teller: Life experiences and the wisdoms garnered from living, enrich what you talk about. You infuse meaning in your stories. For example, you can talk about experiences that challenged you and how you grew from it, which helps others while inspiring them. And you become better equipped to depict memorable stories that are relatively simple and straightforward.
There are great upsides to getting older! And age is a gift not everyone gets.
Nina Radcliff, M.D.,
is a practicing physician and a Board Certified Anesthesiologist. Often called upon by media to speak to medical health topics impacting our lives today, Dr. Nina is passionate about sharing truths for healthy, balanced living as well as wide preventative measures.
Jessica L Conrad, MA, BA, CPC
Certified Life Coach
Jessica L Conrad is the Owner of Awakenings Wellness Center in Monmouth Beach, NJ. She runs her practice out of that location. Jessica received her Masters in Holistic Health Studies and Bachelors in Psychology from Georgian Court University. She received her Certification for Life Coaching from iPEC located in Shrewsbury, NJ after going through an intense training with over 300 course hours.
Jessica is a Women’s Health Advocate. After battling Endometriosis and going through Infertility, Jessica made it her life’s purpose to help other women going through similar experiences. She helps all women at a crossroads in life find clarity and direction. She specializes in Infertility, Endometriosis, and other Reproductive Issues. Jessica has several memberships and affiliations. These include NJAWBO, CYACYL, ICF-NJ, and Resolve. Jessica lives with her Husband, son, and 2 dogs. She loves being outside in nature whether going to the beach, fishing, hiking, gardening, and raising chickens. For more information or to book a Free Consultation call 888-934-5264 or visit jessicalconrad.com
Diane Sinnott
Physical Therapy Assistant All-Care Physical Therapy Center
Diane earned her Associate degree in Applied Science for the Physical Therapist Assistant program from Mercer County College, along with a Bachelors degree from the College of New Jersey. Diane has completed clinical rotations and has worked for several years in an outpatient orthopedic setting. She is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association. Diane strongly believes in a one on one treatment approach for her patients. This year Diane will further expand her skills by attending continuing education courses in Joint Mobilization, Treatment of the Shoulder Girdle Complex and Sacroiliac Mobilization techniques. For more information, call 1-855-3ALLCARE or visit www.AllCarePTC.com.
Maria Jerome
Maria Jerome has been practicing as a dental assistant for 6 years. She presently holds licenses as a Certified and Registered Dental Assistant. Maria currently works with Dr. Balaji Srinivasan at Aesthetic Dental Creations in Jackson, NJ. She enjoys the family atmosphere the office provides for the patients; they give every patient their full attention and time. Dr Balaji is one of the few dentists to treat TMJ disorders and its very rewarding for to watch patients’ lives improve. Such improvement in a patient’s life is one of the many reasons Maria began a career in the dental field. Maria resides in Brick NJ and has lived in Ocean County her whole life. In her spare time, Maria enjoys several crafting hobbies including crocheting, drawing and woodburning. For more information, call 732-363-5370 or visit www. AestheticDentalCreations.com.
Christine Genovese, LPC
Genovese Counseling Services, LLC
Christine Genovese is a Licensed Professional Counselor with offices in Tuckerton and Somers Point. Raised in Absecon, she has combined her love of education and healing and started her private practice in 2018. After a successful career in education, Christine retired as a teacher and school counselor from the Galloway Township school system. During that time, Christine earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Marygrove University and a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Georgian Court University. In 2005, she received the Governor’s Teacher Recognition, and in 2009, she received the School Community Advocate for Education award along with her fellow school counselors. From 2012-2016 Christine worked as a per diem therapist for JFS in Margate. Christine is a Brainspotting Practitioner, which uses a person’s natural gaze along with the therapeutic relationship to process strong emotions. Christine’s practice is limited to adults experiencing major life change, grief and anxiety, and she is especially passionate about working with educators. She is a member of the New Jersey Counseling Association and has enjoyed being in private practice since 2012. Christine enjoys learning about neuroscience, taking metalsmith classes, and hunting for sea glass. Please call 609 568-6299 or visit genovesecounseling.com for more information.
