By Julie E 
Photo Credit ( Pixels )
t’s time to dispel age prejudices in observance of Older Americans. In American media, elderly people are either hailed as centenarians or treated like burdens in understaffed institutions. These are the two extremes of how older people are perceived. The greater truth of how most older persons flourish is ignored in these portrayals.
Resilience, or the capacity to thrive in the face of adversity, can be used to the aging process. Confidence, self-belief, emotional tolerance, and the understanding that stress may actually strengthen rather than weaken us are just a few of the characteristics that make up resilience. People that are resilient keep safe relationships and a feeling of control over their lives.
Even when their physical and cognitive capacities are declining, older adults tend to judge their aging experience more favorably than younger ones, according to research from the Successful Aging Evaluation Study (SAGE). According to the Harvard Study of Adult Development, people in their latter years who do not have serious mental health problems frequently feel happy and content. Compared to younger populations, elderly persons often experience fewer depressive episodes and fewer life-threatening illnesses.
Being resilient is a skill that may be acquired at any age rather than an innate one. As people get older, they learn to value good relationships more than bad things that happen to them. Forgiveness and gratitude are essential to fostering these relationships. Empirical evidence indicates that the existence of affectionate connections can augment contentment and longevity.
It’s interesting to note that research indicates that, when it comes to retirement, pursuing passion and creativity frequently matters more than financial security. Standard health markers may not be the best indicator of effective aging in later life than a happy marriage at age 50. Most importantly, resilience building can be started at any time. Older individuals can develop mindsets and practices that help them recover from life’s disappointments and actually thrive instead of just getting by.