In my recent interview with Judy Brooks, the host of Healing Quest, below, I share my philosophy that no matter how old we are, we can still look forward to each day because, “the best is yet to come.” Similarly, no matter where we are in life, there are opportunities to make changes—to grow and develop new skills and abilities, anticipating that along with these will come new enjoyments.

For many people, this approach is counter-intuitive. “Surely, the best years of my life are behind me,” many older people say. Sadly, some of these people adopt this attitude right after high school or college! They believe they will never again have the fun, freedom, and friends of those carefree days.

While it’s true that we might have more work and responsibilities now that we are older, and perhaps also true that we can no longer run as fast, or stay out all night with friends and still function the next morning; nevertheless, life is rich and varied and offers many wonderful opportunities for enjoyment. Besides, as one ages, one’s enjoyments and preferences change. For example, I no longer have any desire to stay out all night partying! I’d much rather stay in and enjoy a home-cooked meal with my family and friends.

One of the best ways to keep a joyful outlook on life is to stay in touch with your passion. And again, these too can change! My latest passion is painting—something I’d never even tried until I was past retirement age. Now, it’s one of the things I get up for each morning—and I’ve completed more than 600 paintings so far.

I might never have tried painting were it not for an injury—a detached retina—requiring an operation that kept me with my head down, my chin on my chest, for a month afterwards. I was so bored, I thought I’d go out of my mind—until my wife suggested I take up painting, which was something I could do in that position. What a Eureka moment that was! It illustrated another of my Insights—“When you come to a wall in the road, life is telling you to make a turn.”

By adopting this outlook, I can accept even life’s challenges and disappointments as part of the adventure—I just have to figure out how.

Listen to the full 15-minute podcast below: