Dear LPG,

It is amazing that so many pensioners now have older aunts, uncles, mothers and fathers who are very much alive and kicking.  I am one such pensioner and I was visiting my Aunt recently. She lives alone and not too far away but I, and other members of the family could visit more often if they really tried.

 We talked and, though quite a positive person, some of the little things she told me implied that, at the age of 74, she was coming round to the feeling that there is little left for her to do on this earth.  This made me a little sad because I believe that everyone has to have a dream or ambition no matter their age because without one, there is no real point to being alive, and I told her this. 

It was as if, on that day, she was being positively negative, which is not a trait that I usually associate with her.  My reaction was to get my phone out and google people who found their real achievements after they had reached the age where people would have expected them to have put any thoughts of doing so aside.  

Having a goal or a dream to realise, I am convinced, is a major component of contentment in later life.    The possessions of such thoughts help to keep us driven, and can be one of the strongest focal points, giving us a reason to live.  Once we have escaped the working rat race there are so many avenues open to us and although many do, we don’t have to include parachuting for the first time or bungee jumping to our personal list.

The only thing limiting your potential is you. Remember that if you are retiring now you could easily have more than a third of your life left to live! As they say ‘Age is nothing but a number.’ 

FN, Dulwich

LPG found a few facts for our readers.  A lot of the people mentioned are American but there is no doubt that many of our readers can think of people who originate in the UK that we could also learn a lot from.

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