The journey of life is just that—a journey. We Boomers know this better than anyone. Sometimes, it’s smooth. Other times, it’s bumpy. The journey changes every second, every minute, every hour, every day. As we go through hard times, we often wonder why it’s happening to us. Then, many years later, we look back and see the reason more clearly.
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Swiss-American psychiatrist and author, famously said, “Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has a purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are given to us to learn from.” As we Boomers look back at our past, we see a journey filled with ups and downs. But our experiences aren’t over. So many times, the “what ifs” plague us to the extent that we forget what is.
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Many years ago, Dr. Ross wrote about five stages of grief. They are, in order:
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
Dr. Ross’s five stages of grief are not only helpful in dealing with death. They can be applied to other losses, too. We’ve all experienced loss along our journey. Whether it’s a death or a job or a friendship that didn’t quite work out, there are things we may all struggle to accept. But with acceptance comes peace. Rather than focusing on what went wrong, start learning and growing from your mistakes. Only then can we truly appreciate our lives and move forward to a better tomorrow.
Today, I choose to remain in the present. While I’ve made a lot of mistakes along my journey, I still carry myself as a humble but proud Boomer. I have a story. Somebody out there can learn from my mistakes. I learned, and will continue learning, as I continue along this road. I encourage each and every Boomer to share your experiences and your story. Continue to learn on your journey!
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Robert Fowler
Contributing WriterRobert Fowler is a retired blogger who lives with his wife, Mary Ann at Village at Deaton Creek, a Del Webb Community in North Georgia. Robert was previously the President of Retirement Media Inc. He has visited numerous 55+ Active Adult Communities over the years, sharing his experiences along the way with readers. View more posts
