Five Things That Get Better As You Get Older

By Lori Thomas, VP of Marketing / Chief Editor

Aging. It is one of the most certain things in our world today. Just like death and taxes, there is nothing you can really do to avoid aging. What makes this natural part of life even more overwhelming for many people today is the negative stigma that seems to come with aging. However, no matter what the media tries to portray, aging is actually a very positive and wonderful experience, if you just make sure to approach it with the right mindset.

While you may feel bombarding with anti-aging products and rhetoric each and every day, it is important to remember there are lots of things that you have to embrace with aging, and things that you get to enjoy that young people don't. In fact, here are five simple, yet wonderful things that actually get better as you get older.

Seniors Tend to Be Wiser

If only we could all be as wise as the average 65-year old when we were 25. This would prevent a lot of potentially bad decisions from taking place and a number of tattoos from ever happening. One of the great things about aging is that seniors tend to be wiser.

In fact, a recent study from the Smithsonian Magazine has just found that there are so many emotional and intellectual benefits of aging including a general sense of wisdom. The magazine's studies have found that individuals in their 60s are less likely to experience regret and have more insight into their own lives and the world around them.

Seniors are not just using this wisdom to make better decisions either, they are using it to help others. A study from the U.S. Census Bureau has actually found that seniors volunteer at a higher rate than any other age group, meaning as we age we gain more insight into what is important in life and the wisdom to dedicate our time and our efforts to those who need it most.

Seniors Tend to Have More Time for Their Loved Ones

There is an old saying that "grandchildren are God's reward for growing older," and most parents will agree that family and loved ones tend to be the silver lining of aging. As we grow older we not only get to enjoy seeing our children grow up and experience the joy of grandchildren, but many times we also get to enjoy having more free time to spend with these individuals as well.

There are very few things and life that can stack up to the joy that any person feels when they get to spend time with those that matter most to them. As we age and our responsibilities become less and less pressing we tend to have that time in our lives to do what we want. So while younger individuals are feeling the heat from their multiple commitments, PTA and work functions, seniors get to enjoy do the most important thing in life: spending time with those they love.

There Are Some Great Discounts for Seniors

While for some, it may just seem like a consolation prize for growing older, there are actually some really fantastic savings opportunities for seniors and discounts that can really add up. If you are like most adults in today's market, you know that even the smallest savings can really go a long way. Here are just a few of the many discounts you can take advantage of:

Premium Outlet Malls give individuals age 50 and over an extra 10% discount on Tuesdays.
The "50-Plus Shopper Club" offers year-round discounts for shoppers who want to save a little extra on every-day home items, clothing and more.
Seniors can enjoy low-cost college tuition if they want to go back to schools. Some schools even offer free tuition to qualifying seniors.
While Medicare is great, there are also other organizations that provide discounts on vision care, dental services and prescriptions for seniors.
AARP members offer a free 30-minute consultation with a lawyer and a 20% discount on legal services for those who need them.
Auto insurance companies often offer a discount for seniors who take a safe driving source. Both the AAA and the AARP offer these types of programs.
There are great senior travel deals from organizations such as eldertravelers.org.

These are all on top of the countless movie theaters, restaurants and museums around the country that offer discounts for seniors. Just ask, you may be surprised to find what establishments in your area will give you an extra discount just for being a senior!

Seniors Tend to Be More Positive

For seniors, long gone are the day of rampant and unpredictable teenage emotions. Seniors not only get to avoid the emotional rollercoasters that tend to plague the young, but they also tend to experience more positive emotions than younger individuals. In fact, New York's Stony Brook University completed a study of more than 340,000 seniors in their 70s and 80s and found that they are much more likely to exhibit negative behaviors like worry, anger and stress.

This isn't the only study that has associated aging and positivity either. The American Psychological Association, found that both happiness and emotional well-being improve with time. Some contribute this to wisdom or maturity while other seniors find that they just have more time to fill their lives with things they enjoy and actually want to do.

Whether it is your growing understanding of what is really important in life, or simply a commitment to stop and smell the roses, improved mood and more allover happiness seems to be directly linked to age. Just think, the longer you live, the happier and more positive you will likely be. Now that is something to look forward to as you age.

Seniors Tend to Be Smarter

Did you know that when you age, you not only become wiser, but you may actually become smarter as well. In fact, research has found that peak intelligence actually happens to be around 74 years old, not 59 like some people used to think. This study looked at reasoning, memory and other aspects of intelligence to find that 74 year olds are actually much more intelligent as a group than their younger counterparts.

This is great news for the many seniors today who just aren't ready for retirement at 65. In fact, it is great news for companies who have employees that don't want to retire at this age either. After all, keeping individuals on past 65 may just be better for many of today's top organizations, as they take advantage of individuals who are at their intellectual prime.

There are so many great things about being a senior in today's world, so while you may be worried about a few extra fine lines here and there, it may be time to start embracing some of the amazing things about aging that all seniors have to look forward to.