Remember that first day of school? What to wear? Who will I know? How will I be accepted? Why is this so important? Not many “firsts” in our lives are any different than the first day of school. They were the ones who patted us on the back and gently shoved us out the door to a whole new world of opportunities. Albeit, opportunities that were much simpler, but given our age ‘back then’, just as scary. Remember the first trip down the road without your training wheels? I was so scared my first ride on the school bus that I never got off the bus! Which in turn was my mother’s first scare of losing a child…
Then came adolescence, and we were gently introduced into the role of a responsible person, one who could have some input into decisions. These decisions were generally based on the tools we had been given in our formative years. Our first job was most likely driven by the desire to ‘own’ something, a car or our own wardrobe, even snack money at the neighborhood pool. We started to be more confident and at times, more vocal about what we wanted and HOW we wanted it.
Lo and behold! Our parents threw us out of the nest and off we went…to college, a full time job, marriage, and even war. We were ready. Most of the changes we made were driven by outside forces and were quite honestly, terrifying. But we drew in a breath, gritted our teeth, and fell right into the rhythms of change. It was exciting. It was energizing. We began to have control over not just our lives, but our choices. Those decisions also brought change. As we married our sweethearts, a whole new world of ‘firsts’ began to appear…holidays away from home, children, jobs, new cars, savings accounts, new homes, insurance, investments. Each of us also had a new way of handling the stress and we incorporated spirituality and wisdom into our lives.
As we age, the cycle keeps spinning and there are bigger, more lasting differences. The world of families and friends shrink, usually due to relocation and death. Who was beside us is not the same ‘who’ of twenty, forty or even fifty years ago. We are truly becoming more dependent on decisions prompted by circumstance, not choice. A medical event such as a stroke or diabetes could limit opportunities. Being close to medical assistance becomes more of a priority than traveling to new locations. Having less house to manage is a liberating thought. It’s time to grab every opportunity to have a new friend, to engage in social activities where you are safe. A life lived without fear may simply be a life lived knowing others are keeping an eye on you.
Is it free? Of course not, we all know “nothing is free.” Is it worth the cost? Most certainly. After all the years of saving for a “rainy day” it is time to start using those earnings to pay the most important person of all…you.
The best things in life are not free. Family, a life well lived, and security are not easily lost. Once they are gone, there is virtually no way to regain their status. These are the investments we need to make as we age. This is what is important. If we need to draw on the past years of savings, this is the place to make those changes. Giving the gift of memories to your family and ensuring they have the comfort of knowing you are enjoying a strong quality of life is priceless.
So, take a deep breath, make a commitment, and start thinking of how to make these changes, especially if it involves moving to a community modeled just for your peers. There is change wherever you turn. Bridge to Better Living® is committed to being right beside you with each step down this new journey. The only price you pay is time. Once you make a call to our service, you will start to embrace change.
See…you’re starting to think about changing already!