During the river cruise, I had the opportunity to speak with several retired men. The story seems to follow one of two tracks: those who are loving life and the many adventures and those who have not yet found their strides and are clinging to the past with both hands. I am not judging the latter.
Some men, clinging to their past, insist they’re content, but their clenched jaws reveal their struggle. On the other hand, those who have moved past the messy transition appear more at ease. The position on the spectrum of change seemed to influence the level of ease. I noticed a higher degree of gratitude in those who had ‘figured it out,’ as opposed to those still fighting their inner battles of aging.
Change impacts people differently; some embrace it while others fight it. This time of life brings forth a multitude of changes that demand us to navigate them with grace and gratitude. The truth is, we all end up facing the same condition. So it makes sense to find as much joy as possible—fighting time is a losing battle.
