Overcoming Aging's Obstacles

Old Age need not bring on new rage. A new outlook can cause you to look at a happier future.

(SALEM) - As one enters that Senior Citizens bracket, inevitably you find yourself surrounded with lots of age cohorts that ventilate complaints. Some may be health-related, others a lament of activities of the past that they tend to miss. Or quite possibly, those complaints come from your very own lips.

How you perceive life itself can determine your course as you age.

In that mind of yours, the old tapes are playing. At times you may feel fixated, even trapped. Getting free of those shackles of yesteryear can be a formidable challenge, an ongoing struggle requiring extra courage.

During this new free-time period post-retirement, you have time to reflect. Old setbacks may intrude on your mental tablet. You may find this an interruption to your search for serenity.

This is the perfect time to get in touch with your strengths. They can propel you forward. Make a little list of those positives you've achieved despite setbacks along the trail. Rediscover how you've summoned that adrenalin not to surrender. What would you like to be hearing if you were around for your eulogy?

Give yourself permission to imagine rewriting the script of life's journey. If granted a second chance, how would you handle that same situation? Seek out the lessons learned and inscribe them in your psyche.

Finally, let's pretend that magically you became twins, one strong and one weaker. Put yourself into the position of the stronger twin giving advice to boost the weaker. What helpful counsel could you deliver? You'll shortly discover that true "empowerment" begins within. You have that capability.

Old Age need not bring on new rage. A new outlook can cause you to look at a happier future.

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NOTE: Lee Coyne does a weekly KMUZ radio show called "Aging Without Raging" which features senior success stories. He invites guest suggestions. Contact: notcoy@netzero.net.

NOTE: B. Lee Coyne first emerged as a Caucasian cub reporter for the Black weekly NY Voice and was assigned to cover numerous civil rights struggles. It has left its indelible mark on his mindset. He can be contacted at: notcoy@netzero.net.

B. Lee Coyne, a NYC native, blends three careers: Journalist, Counselor, Educator. His writings have appeared in newspapers and magazines on the East and West Coasts and the Southwest. He loves the art of the interview and has covered such persons as Dr. King's 1963 "Dream" speech and Sen. William

Proxmire as an advocate for the environment. A global traveller to some 30 countries aboard, he speaks Spanish semi-fluently and very rudimentary Russian, Tagalog, German, Arabic and Hebrew.

Lee's legacy here in Salem includes launching the Salem Peace Mosaic at the YMCA and doing a radio talk show for KMUZ/88.5 FM. It airs Mondays and highlights lives of proactive, productive senior citizens. He invites you to contact him at: notcoy@netzero.net.