Life is difficult.”    — M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled

Most of us seniors would not argue with M. Scott Peck’s assertion. Even though gold is supposed to be immutable, the golden years can often have some tarnish: more aches and pains, more “Where are my keys?” and more trips to the bathroom. As a friend once told me, “All the warranties run out after 40.”

I accepted when I became Medicare eligible that my life moving forward was unlikely to be all peaches and cream. However, as the years continued to roll along, and the warranties running out started to grind me down more and more, I decided to make it a priority to make my life easier and happier whenever possible. I have tried to make small, positive choices that improve the quality of my life. With the hope that some of my “ten cups of coffee” might be helpful to my fellow seniors:

1. An actual cup of coffee every morning with half and half, never with skim or regular milk, and more than one when needed.
2. Regulating the time I spend watching or listening to news programs.
3. Taking morning walks, even it’s only to the mailbox and back.
4. Smiling at least once a day, more if possible.
5. Keeping the heat and air conditioning high or low enough to be comfortable.
6. Eating dark chocolate each day — for my health of course — often with my morning coffee.
7. Buying an occasional lottery ticket.
8. Whistling a favorite tune.
9. Thinking about the “big picture” at least once a day.
10. Reminding myself that I do not have to accept every challenge, and that it is OK to say “no” when someone asks me to do something that requires my time and energy.

I think most of us seniors have been through enough difficult times to handle the big challenges in our lives fairly well, but it’s the small changes as we age, like more doctors’ appointments, that can start to wear us down and diminish our zest for living. We know, but sometimes forget, it’s the small self-caring choices that can make a big difference in the quality of our lives.

In any case, I hope my “ten cups of coffee” might help you think about small ways to make your life easier and happier, and I would appreciate it, if it’s not too much trouble, sharing any of your “cups of coffee” with me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Contact the author at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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