On Aging : By Arthur C Brooks

One of my favorite columnist is Arthur C Brooks. Publishes articles mostly related to human psychology. 

A few lines from his recent article : 

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/12/happiness-time-aging-mood/676964/

I have seen this phenomenon in people close to me who, in late middle age, made a choice to practice character virtues that enhanced life for others. Sure enough, in old age they were absolute superstars of goodness, remembered as such after death.

Start each day by imagining the person you want to be as the years go by: not ruminating on grievances, not wasting time being grumpy, and sharing words of kindness and encouragement with whomever you come across. Notice how this imagined version of yourself makes you feel. The idea is to have this vision become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Then, every night, think about ways you can be better still in these areas the next day.

And towards the end: 

And therein lies the last lesson to help you prepare for your golden years: Start appreciating seniors more for their natural gifts. The practice of seeing yourself valuing old people will reprogram the way you think and feel about your own aging. That will allay your fears, and free you up to get on with the important business of becoming happier.

For some reason I have always connected with older folks, sometimes there's an urge to ask them questions as to how their life experience was, what were their good choices, what were their regrets, with the intent of learning from their experience.  But with a little thought later, I realize that its good to listen to their stories just with the intent of listening ... just like it would be interesting to listen to younger kids  describing their wonderful world... and not with the intent of learning. You could definitely borrow some lessons from their lives, but you got to live the life as it comes with a mix of planning ahead and a mix of being open to experiences and sail through the tempests as well as the placid blue waters of the ocean of life.