By Judie Donaldson

New Year’s Day.  By its very nature, it wields an inherent significance. It invites reflection and assessment. It suggests the promise of something new. It generates hope and motivation, and, of course, it’s the catalyst for the inevitable new year’s resolutions. How about for you? Does New Year’s Day have a meaning or tradition? Is it a time when you, with a degree of seriousness, take stock of your life?
We commonly associate a life-planning process with someone early in their adult life, or perhaps at midlife, who is charting out plans, priorities, and goals. But, I’ve begun to think that it is even more important for those of us in our senior years to periodically undertake a life- planning process and assess whether we are living our life in the most meaningful and satisfying way.
After all, our years are ones to be cherished, and many us will be living much longer than seniors did in previous decades. Our choices may impact 5, 10, 15, or even 20 years! Pausing to reflect on our decisions, and identifying whether there are new choices we would like to make, sounds like wise uses of our time––even though some of those choices may be difficult or painful.
For the last seven years, I’ve developed a New Year’s Day ritual of writing a reflection on how I’m feeling about the year that is passing and the decisions I’ve made, noting its highlights and challenges, and setting goals for the year ahead. It’s been a useful process. Collectively, these annual writings offer a perspective on my life journey.
I recently came across a book titled “Journeywell: A Guide to Quality Aging” that I think I’ll use to shape my annual reflection this year.  The author Trish Herbert espouses something that I’d suggest all Carquinez Village members consider, which is that our decisions, big and small, significantly shape our aging experience.  Sure, other factors contribute. There’s a lot we can’t control, and there are always surprises that require new choices. That’s where resilience comes in, the ability to accept change, and the capacity to make wise decisions.  How are your decision-making skills?
Hopefully, most of our decisions are a result of thoughtfulness and prioritizing. However, too often our decisions are unconscious, a product of our habits.  Some habits, like exercise, are constructive. However, a whole bunch of others, like not believing that we can do something because we never have tried it or having attitudes and judgments that are poisonous to our well-being, can be spoilers in our lives. Our goal at Carquinez Village is to provide an environment that supports our members in making decisions that enrich their lives and enable them to live as positively and fully as possible.
I like Trish Herbert’s description of herself as a “choicefulest.” (That’s a mouthful, isn’t it?) It refers to someone who believes that she can define what will lead to quality aging, and make decisions that support it. Quality aging, of course, is different for each of us.
I want to share some of the assessment and awareness questions that Herbert offers as ones that can generate insight that, in turn, will contribute to future decision making.
1. What was the best period of your life? The worst?   Why?
2. What adjectives would you use to describe your current stage of life? What is the best thing about it?  The worst?
3. What is the best thing you do for yourself? For someone else?
4. What is your most satisfying accomplishment?
5. What values influence how you spend your days? Would you like to spend them differently? If so, how?
6. What are two new things you would like to do?
7. What is quality aging for you?
8. Would you like to change anything to enhance the quality of your life?
These questions are merely a window into Herbert’s life-planning process for seniors. Creating a quality life as a senior is what I would call an “inside job.” It depends on self awareness.
Speaking of awareness, I found Mahatma Gandhi’s insight to be instructive. He said, “Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words.  Your words become your actions. Your actions become your values. Your values become your destiny.”  Carquinez Village wishes all seniors a destiny of quality aging. Happy new year!
If you would be interested in a class in life-planning, let us know. You can reach Carquinez Village by phone at 707-297-2472 or email at info@carquinezvillage.org.

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