Finding Your Passion in Your 70s

The latest in medical research shows that people can learn, and even master, new hobbies or skills at any age. Here are five ways you can find your passion—and excel at it—in your 70s.

Keep socializing. It always seems that work or play has a way of expanding to fit the time allowed for it. How many of us have put things off when we have all the time in the world? It is easy to grow complacent, especially when you retire and have much more time on your hands. Use the much larger amount of free time you now have to socialize.

The easiest way to do this is to join a club or organization that corresponds to something you already like or to something you have an interest in, however small that interest may be.

Socializing will help keep your brain sharp and so will learning or developing a skill surrounding something you find interesting. Find a group who likes something you like too and you will get a double dose of activity to help keep your brain young while you discover or build upon a new passion.

Keep using your imagination and act on it. Whatever you do, don't grow complacent. Indulge your imagination; try not to toss out thoughts or ideas that may, at first blush, seem not for you, too difficult, or even crazy. You never know. That idea that seems so crazy at first may turn out to be the best thing ever.

Most importantly, do something about the things your imagination comes up with. Take action. Don't let your current fears or inner fears from the past get in the way of acting on your dreams. You've already outlived many of the critics from your youth. Who cares what the rest of them think. Live life to make yourself happy. This is one of the greatest benefits of a long life: permission to do what you want. After all, you've lived long enough to have earned it.

Follow the beat of your own drummer and express that uniqueness. Don't do something just because others are doing it. Conversely, don't not do something just because no one else is doing it. You've earned the right to do your own thing. Do it. Wear purple. Don a red hat. Or wear red and don a purple hat. Learn self-defense or martial arts in your 70s. Start training to run a marathon. Start writing the novel that's been in your head for the last 30 years.

The point is that finding your passion in your 70s (or indeed, any age), is all about discovering and pursuing what you want, not what someone else thinks you should do. So travel to the beat of your own drum. It truly is the best way to find happiness and fulfillment.

Stay physically active. Studies have shown that men and women in their 90s and 100s showed an increase in physical strength from lifting one pound weights in each hand, for just 15 minutes. Imagine what this could do for someone twenty to thirty years younger. The point is that it is never too late and you're never too old to benefit from a little physical activity.

You don't have to lift weights. Simply going for a 20- to 30-minute walk every day will improve your endurance, help lower your cholesterol (in conjunction with a healthy diet), and actually make you feel better and younger.

So get off the couch already.

Most importantly: take action. The most important thing you need to know to find your passions in your 70s is to do something. Don't fall into the "I'll do it tomorrow trap." Do it today. I called my local first call for help hotline and asked them if they had information about senior activities near me. Try it in your hometown. Then go to at least one social function connected to an activity that you already enjoy or are interested in.

This first step will help you become more comfortable with taking risks surrounding something you are already familiar with. Keep socializing with people interested in what you are interested in and eventually, you'll feel confident enough to try meeting people who are interested in something you're interested in but don't know too much about. That's when you will truly begin to discover new passions in your 70s.

Finally, don't ever forget that your life still has meaning, no matter what our youth-obsessed culture says.