by Joyce M. George-Knight

Created on: December 23, 2009

You bet there is life after 40, 50, 60, and if you don't experience it, take a good look at yourself. For life to be fulfilling at any age, the mind needs to believe that life is worth living. There's a woman, Zoe, in her early eighties. She's a widow of over a dozen years and she has no intention of ever marrying again. Her husband was her knight in shining armor and she doesn't want to have another knight. Zoe's children are grown and have families of their own. She's a store greeter, who wears the grandest smile that anyone could possibly imagine. Zoe's "Welcome to ..." brings smile responses and a "thank you." Last month, this woman traveled from Canada to England for a three-week vacation, during which she was helping her sister get on with her life following her husband's recent passing.

The determination to be content and happy comes from a positive belief in life as a blessing, instead of a curse. We all know individuals, who mope and grumble on a daily basis. They are unhappy individuals that appear to try to pull others down with them. They seem to not like anything. Absolutely nothing will change their minds until they make that conscious decision. However, the positive individual won't allow himself to fall for such negativity. It takes more energy to be negative than it does to be a positive person.

Wear a smile on your face, making others wonder what you're up to, and you're sure to have someone respond to your happiness. They want to know what's making you so cheerful, for they want some of it.  A smile gets people guessing why you are wearing it. Then, even when they learn the honest answer, they still question, as a means of double-checking.

The only big difference between these three decades is the speed with which we operate. Each decade slows us down a wee bit, but it doesn't stop us altogether. Then, again, slowing down isn't so bad either. It let's us have a bit more time to make self-discoveries and take in more of the beauty and love around us.

Whether you are in your 70's, 80's or 90's, think twice and don't pull out that rocking chair just yet. You've a lot more life to live before you're content to sit back, relax and rock your life away.

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