3 Secret to Happiness in Old Age
Is there happiness in old age?
Some mornings, I’ll be honest, I don’t think so.
I wake up stiff, every joint grumbling like it has a mind of its own.
My knee and back having an all-out contest:.
“I hurt more than you!”
“No, I hurt more!”
And somewhere in the corner, my shoulder chimes in.
“I’m Steve, and I’m stiff. LOL.”
And yet…then the sun spills across the floor, golden and lazy, and I remember that happiness isn’t gone.
It’s just hiding in the small, soft corners of life.
Like me at fifty, learning to enjoy soft foods ahead of time, knowing full well one day I’d lose my teeth.
Old is old.
Old is not gold, so keep that in mind.
Let’s keep it simple.
1. Keep the People Who Matter Close
Forget the energy-drainers and grammar-policing friends.
I know, I’m Steve, and yes, I can be punctuation police too.
Surround yourself with people who make you laugh.
This immediately rules out ex-colleagues, snarky, smarty-pants classmates.
And neighborhood Karen, who only notices when you’re having a rough day.
Instead, gravitate toward the Dorys of the world, or anyone who can simply sit with you in companionable silence.
A handful of genuine connections is worth more than a hundred polite nods.
And yes, a little eccentricity is welcomed!
Life’s too short for boring friends.
Seek the wild, quirky ones who pop unwashed grapes at the supermarket just to see if they’re sweet.
2. Do the Things That Spark Joy
And no, I don’t mean pulling a Marie Kondo — unless she’s doing my laundry too.
Life slows, but curiosity doesn’t have to.
Paint.
Plant a mango tree.
Dance (even if only in slippers).
Write letters—yes, even if it’s just a big “A” for Apple.
Try something new.
Pick responsibilities that you never learned growing up.
Those that secretly bring satisfaction, and skip the ones that don’t.
Even the smallest pleasures count.
A hot cup of tea. Coffee with milk.
Maybe a cheeky sip of whiskey (bonus points if it comes with whiskers).
A stroll to visit the neighbor’s cat.
A perfectly timed sneeze. Or yes — a gloriously long fart.
They all count.
Little anchors that remind you life’s still good — still worth laughing about.
Do the things that spark joy, not spark plugs.
You can be a spark plug if you like — not quite the live wire, but hey, thanks for trying.
Personally, I’d pick laughter and a touch of mischief any day.
3. Notice the Little Miracles
And FINALLY—happiness isn’t constant.
It flickers, hides, and surprises you.
Remember Dory, who tells you funny dad jokes at the most unexpected moments?
That’s the kind of magic I mean.
A shaft of sunlight, a shared laugh, a memory that makes your chest ache a little—that’s it.
Forgive old grudges, even the nasty ones from older people who really should know better.
(Equally old but nasty and childish enough to remove classmates from WhatsApp groups)
Celebrate small wins.
Holding in your farts at church.
Trying not to fall asleep and snore during the sermon—big victories, my friend.
Even bigger if you’re the preacher!
Even on gray, stiff mornings, these tiny moments remind you that life is still quietly astonishing.
And if you forget, the breeze, a neighbor’s dog, or a random burst of song will probably remind you.
Old age isn’t perfect.
Some days ache, some days drag.
But by keeping the right people close, doing what excites you, and noticing the little miracles, happiness can still sneak in, unannounced—like Steve, stiff as ever, warming himself in a sunbeam.
