AGE UK column: There’s a lot to be said for the positive view of life, I’ve found

Okay, it’s unlikely you will manage to change your ways entirely. In fact, have you noticed how many people’s ways of behaving (especially the bad ones as we do tend to focus on them) actually become more pronounced in older life?

The important thing is that we all try to mature like good wine does over time and improve our best characteristics while ridding ourselves of unattractive qualities.

Number one on this pensioner’s list is to make a real effort to embrace new opportunities. It’s too easy to use age as an excuse and make ‘no’ your default reply to an invitation to do something you haven’t done before.

I know a lady in her nineties who has travelled far and wide in the last decade and hardly ever turns down the chance of doing or seeing something new. Her positivity and love of life has kept her feeling younger than her years.

Common sense does dictates some limitations. 2017 won’t be the year I take up either skydiving or bungee jumping however much a worthy charity might benefit!

My grandmother used to say ‘count your blessings’. There’s a lot to be said for the positive view. We should, as the Monty Python song suggests, ‘always look on the bright side of life’.

Have you noticed how people who are humourless and forever moaning and berating others don’t seem to live nearly as long as those who can laugh, even at themselves, and have a much more rounded, philosophical view of life?

Although there seem to be as few hours in the day in retirement as there were when in full-time employment I am going to endeavour to do something in a voluntary capacity where I might be able to contribute something useful to others – and gain personal fulfilment.

Nearer home, I am going to strive to stop pointing rather than using my vocal cords. If I am using my index finger to save wearing out my voice I’m told I can counterbalance any detrimental effect by not finishing my wife’s sentences for her!