ElderCare Expert Blog » attitude http://www.agingpro.com/blog Inspiring, Educating and Empowering Caregivers Cheryl Mathieu, Ph.D., M.S.W. Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:28:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Aging means changing http://www.agingpro.com/blog/2009/02/aging-means-changing/ http://www.agingpro.com/blog/2009/02/aging-means-changing/#comments Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:18:50 +0000 Cheryl Mathieu http://www.agingpro.com/blog/?p=161 I’ve been contemplating why it is that most people loathe the idea of growing older. If you ask someone’s age, many people hesitate to answer, as if not admitting it will slow the aging process.  Is it all about the potential loss – loss of independence, loss of mental, physical or sensory abilities?

While working with my 20-month old daughter in her bottle drinking habits, I realized – humans don’t easily embrace change at any age. My daughter likes bottles in the morning, nap time and before bed. Who wouldn’t! She wants things to stay the same. She is not liking the change. It is not easy to change as we age, at any age.

Can I look at aging as changing – instead of something to dread, fear, fight or ignore? Can I embrace the change, even celebrate?  I am going to age whether I like it or not.

Again, I am reminded that this is an attitude. The good news about that is that my attitude is something I have control over.

More musings…

]]> http://www.agingpro.com/blog/2009/02/aging-means-changing/feed/ 0 Gratitude is the attitude! http://www.agingpro.com/blog/2008/12/gratitude-is-the-attitude/ http://www.agingpro.com/blog/2008/12/gratitude-is-the-attitude/#comments Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:12:10 +0000 Cheryl Mathieu http://agingpro.com/blog/?p=106 What a difference an attitude makes!

I’ve been aware of feeling kind of “funky” over the last couple days, but didn’t know exactly why. It hit me tonight that I’ve been focusing on all the “bad” news in the media – the economy, the war, the bailouts, the political corruption and more. I’ve been allowing it to affect me and bring me down.

What I know is that in the past, when I have focused on what I am grateful for, what I appreciate and what is good, I feel much better! A simple thing like an attitude of gratitude can be so powerful.

So, I tried a little on tonight.  I began celebrating the things I was calling negative or irritating. I took a different perspective and embraced (loved) what I resisted. I loved that my daughter was up way past her bedtime. I loved that I’ve gained a couple pounds lately. I loved the pain in my neck. I loved that this economic condition is giving me a chance to relook at my priorities – to fine tune my effectiveness and focus. I am grateful for what I have (and am willing to let go of the expectations about what I think I should have).

Just saying those things makes me feel lighter and less “down.” My attitude is the one thing I have control over – all the time. I am choosing to feel hopeful and optimistic and grateful.  There is so much to be thankful for. There is beauty all around me, and I can make the choice to look.

P.S. It’s almost a full moon tonight. Have you looked up lately?  Enjoy!

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