Aging Well in an Era of Uncertainty

Many older individuals feel a greater sense of freedom with age, inviting them to chase their truest selves, and leave the unimportant angst behind. In a culture where angst seems to prevail, and young people face uncertain futures, aging with joy is a radical act of humanity. And the conversation is changing to reflect this.

Aging joyfully isn’t a new concept, nor is it a marketing scheme; it’s just a trend in human nature. According to a 2011 Gallup survey, people’s sense of well-being was the highest in childhood and old age.

He cites research by Harvard social psychologist Ellen Langer in her 2009 book Counterclockwise , that suggests that by creating a “reminiscence bump” for residents of their own past college experiences, university-based communities may even help to “reverse” ageing. “You are as young as you feel. If you put people in their past environments,” he s... See more