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HAPPINESS AND AGING
Happiness is a very important construct in modern day society. It is a factor that people pursue relentlessly throughout their lives. Among the strategies through which people pursue happiness is by starting a family or going after a career that they feel challenges them in a positive way. Despite all these methods and many more happiness is a factor that has remained elusive for a number of people. There is no universal formula to happiness and the very concept of it is relative based on the interests of an individual. As an individual ages their level of happiness increases.
The current modern day society is youth centric. This means that many integral factors of the society are driven by the youth population. Examples include the economy. To this effect the youth are usually the focus of legislation as well as a number of mainstream topics of discussion such as education and the growth of the economy. However, despite this unprecedented degree of focus on the youth it is undoubtable that the level of happiness is directly proportional to the age of an individual. This means that the older a person gets the happier they become (Kluger). This translates to older members of the society being happier that younger members of the society.
The modern economic environment is getting harsher for the current young generation. They have to deal with numerous issues such as student loans that are at a record high as well as sky high mortgage prices that limit their chances of ever owning a home. These are factors that members of the older generations never had to deal with in their youth. They managed to live out their lives without necessarily accruing an unprecedented level of debt. In the present most members of the older generations own their own homes and are completely debt free. They are also unecumbered by the prevailing economic conditions that are getting harsher by the day (Rogers). This means that based on economics alone members of the older generations are happier than members of the younger generation.
Human beings usually derive a sense of satisfaction from their achievements. This satisfaction can translate to happiness. Members of the older generations have more achievements based on the fact that they have been alive longer. Some of them feel like they have lived fulfilling lives and have loving families. The fact that their children are all grown also means that they no longer have to suffer the financial and social burden of raising children. This is not the case for members of the younger generations. They do not have an overwhelming sense of achievement as members of the older generations do (Kluger). They are also living in the social media age meaning that they compare their achievements to that of their peers and may at times feel inadequate about themselves. They are under a lot of pressure to make something of their lives while members of the older generation have a sense of satisfaction over the lives that they have lived.
As people get older they accumulate a lot of information through experience and learning. They get to know the truly important things in life and the things that they should stress over. They no longer chase after goals that are too ambitious for them (Kluger). Instead they narrow their point of view to things that are clearly in their grasp. They focus more on what they can do as opposed to what they should do or what society expects from them. This element of foresight is usually lacking among members of the younger generation. They still have a wider view through which they see the world. They are also willing to go after what society pressures them to as opposed to what they really want. To this effect the younger members of society are less happy compared to the older members of society.
A criticism of the thesis statement is the fact that members of the younger generations have their entire lives ahead of them. They are very energetic and have their whole lives ahead of them. They also have a higher sense of purpose since they are basically the driving force behind the entire economy and social order. However, older members of the society are forced to face issues such as their own mortality. As they get older their bodies become weaker and they have to face the reality that their lives may come to an end at some point (Stibich). They are also weaker and are unable to be as productive as they once were.
The criticism is true in the sense that younger members of society are more energetic and by extension more productive. However, with this power also comes the responsibility of being in charge of the economy and social order. Some of them have to work very hard not because they love to but because their current circumstance forces them to. However, members of the older generation can truly focus on what is important in their lives. They do what they wish to as opposed to what they are being forced by the social set up to do.
There is a positive correlation between aging and happiness in the sense that the older a person gets the happier they become. Older members of society may be weaker but they are also wiser. They have a narrower perspective meaning that they are able to focus on the things that are truly important to them. Their lives are less eventful compared to the younger members of society. They live calmer lives and are able to look back at their achievements over time. On the other hand the younger members of society have to face the pressure that is ahead of them in the form of ever rising expectations on achievement.
Works Cited
Kluger, Jeffrey. "Why You Can Look Forward to Being Happier in Old Age." Time, 6 Sept. 2018, time.com/5363067/aging-happiness-old-age-psychology/.
Rogers, Paul. "Finding Meaning and Happiness in Old Age." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia, 8 June 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/03/19/well/finding-meaning-and-happiness-in-old-age.html.
Stibich, Mark. "Is Aging the Secret to Happiness?" Verywell Mind, 22 Aug. 2008, www.verywellmind.com/aging-the-secret-to-happiness-2224100.