Psy 500 - Reflections from a Senior Citizen: a Life by Adage

Meaning of Life Aiding Successful Aging: A Life Lived By Adage

Margie Herndon

PSYCH500

June 4, 2012

Dr. Jennings

Meaning of Life Aiding Successful Aging: A Life Lived By Adage

First we live and then we die. Seven simple words everyone has heard that oversimplifies the lifespan concept. Life is fun, hard, tragic, painful, and work, to say the least, encompassing developmental stages people learn and grow from, then progress into following stage.

The biggest motivator evoking people to live life to the fullest is their meaning in life. Something to strive for, a legacy to leave behind, is highly important throughout most people's lives, creating later life satisfaction. I interviewed a senior citizen about his meaning of life, the importance it played, and to gather wisdom acquired along the way. His intriguing story including cross-development occurring while young; his development straightened out later and now at 75, successfully entered Erikson's last stage: Integrity versus Despair,

Metaphors and similes pepper his stories for emphasis (see Appendix),opening my eyes journeying his life, touching on heated topics, lack of religion and implications, stressing importance common adages part for coping and motivation. He voiced when finished that if I gained anything, he hopedit was 'A man is only as good as his word' since he centered his morality and beliefs here, and being content, enjoying life still, he advised this as important key in living right and retiring happy.

Hot Under the Collar

Let's Get it On

Uneasiness began while listing statistics and inquiring his thoughts: sex before marriage is considered okay in today's liberal society - averaging around ninth-grade; popularity of cohabitating opposed to marriage rising; and demonstrated rise in postponement of childbearing for education and established careers. These statistics elicited very strong responses, tones of indignation but ending with difficulty remaining in seat as he cast society's problems to current trends. Attributed society as 'going to pot', and asked to explain, he threw his hands up, exclaiming why society is "so screwed up" His example is people not taking care of their finances or paying their bills; spending more than they had, to 'keep up with the Jones's'.

Affronts to his moral principles garnished the strongest responses. Reid (2012) maintains spirituality enhances the end of life experience; although another possibility implies disconnect with society, "Others are dismayed and feel a sense of anxiety because they do not know what changes to anticipate..." expresses Watkins (2009, p. 10).

Robbing Peter to Pay Paul

Regarding social security, blame placed to government for "borrowing" but ended up accusing the government of stealing, "those dirty bastards were 'robbing Peter to pay Paul."

No Moral Compass

Religion received intense reactions; he hypothesized no religious affiliation set blind vicious cycles in following generations, implying religion is a 'moral compass', guidance towards a proper life, 'knowing right from wrong.' All important life codes lost here.

Practice What You Preach

Life is a Game of Cards

He prefaced the interview that his story could have been different, involving college. Not his story though, so 'played the hand he was dealt.' Crossing a cemetery was 'the final straw', realization he had no one.

Walking the Line

Promising never to rely on another, he finds ways to keep his promise in opportunities and hidden contexts, or in his case, some car armrests. Basing life's meaning on moral principles, expectations of others are those of himself 'in the role of the dice in life'.

Back In the Good 'Ole Days

Losing him mother and absentee father, turned his development in reverse. An instant adult at 12, no adults, he 'filled the shoes as the man of the house'. Life in the navy was less stringent, fewer responsibilities, freedom to identify self, gave him experiences common of young adulthood, later in his life.

Although less responsibility, he remained mature, opening a bank account and sticking to his principles. He continues taking great pride in this, financial independence is recurring, an intense desire to be self-sufficient, believing 'money is the root of all evil'.

No Use Crying Over Spilled Milk

His mother's death from a broken heart was captivating. Instantaneous adult and first tragedy to cope was very memorable. He also considered his marriages memorable despite ending in divorce. Throughout life he dealt in present time, 'the past is the past', 'no use crying over spilled milk' he stated, summing it all up. 'When one door shuts another will open', he says, having actively sought to open those doors. These adages became his coping strategies and motivation.

The transitional period he planned for was retirement, dutifully following own instruction for financial planning, "Thinking about retirement was positively associated with financial preparedness" (Noon, Alpass, & Stephens, 2010, p. 728).

In retirement he moved, but remained active and busy within the senior center, corroborating Fast, Dosman, & Moran (2006) implications that retired seniors continued productive activities into later life as a substitution for productive engagement. The Pavlova & Silbereisen (2012) study (also) had higher life satisfaction post-retirement upon the non-working senior citizens that volunteered and remained active in daily tasks. I inquired his feelings in how he lived and if he considered himself a good role model. He responded if post-retirement individuals kept busy and active, the transition did not necessitate lack in life's meaning, recommending retiree's stay busy, involved, and volunteer as he does. At the end of the interview, I inquired about death; in mid-adulthood, felt death would be 92, now at 75 it is day-to-day, so he takes pleasure in every day. I asked him if impending death was disturbing and he responds casually, no, he plans on cremation Ending the interview, I asked for parting wisdom, receiving another