We live in a time that largely celebrates youth and beauty. This perspective may have evolved from our culture’s love of novelty, innovation, and pop culture—hence our deep desires to stall aging and remain immortal.

But the worshiping of youth is not historically constant. Ancient Greek and Roman societies, many Native American tribes, and Asian cultures have shown strong deference towards their elders—seeing them as a source of wisdom and stability.

There are certain aspects of youth and our aging years worth appreciating. There’s no reason to pick one as the ultimate example or push either aside as not worthy of having power or influence.

In the West today, however, the balance has tipped too far. Many have come to see getting older as something to be feared and older people as ones to be avoided. At its worst, older people are seen as having very little to contribute and are made to feel that they are a drain on society.

Let’s push back on that narrative and remember what our aging citizens have to offer the world and themselves. The golden years of life don’t have to be something to dread but can be appreciated as another season of life with its own struggles, joys, and contributions.

8 Benefits of Aging

I hope these examples of how we benefit from aging might help us celebrate growing older.

1. Greater Perspective and Experience

When you get older, you’re not just using your intuition to inform your judgment, you’re drawing from real-world experiences accumulated over decades—grounded in reality. Practical application of experience is a particular asset for those in their golden years.

2. Increased Emotional Stability

Let’s face it—there aren’t many emo bands started by people in their 70s. The early years of adolescence and the middle-aged years of striving can be an emotional roller coaster. One gift of older people is their steadiness through it all—they’ve made it through.

3. More Appreciation for Relationships

In retirement, many people find time to invest in relationships in ways they never could during periods of life when they were actively raising kids or trying to progress their careers. With fewer daily responsibilities and more free time, they can finally make time to just be with others.

4. Less Greed and Desire for Material Wealth

So much of our mental energy in our adult years is spent on getting by or getting ahead. Thankfully, it seems that many older adults find a sense of peace in the area of finances—either coming to terms with what they’re able to attain or realizing the juice of chasing more is not worth the squeeze.

5. A Stronger Sense of Self 

Compared to young adults, those more advanced in age tend to have a stronger sense of who they are and what principles will guide their decision-making. Earlier in life, so many things feel in flux, and you tend to get caught up in doing what those around you are doing. With age comes self-knowledge and wisdom from a deeper set of values.

6. Freedom to Say No

When we’re young, we’re told what to do by our parents. As we get older, our bosses take over that role. It’s only when we’re retired that we get the full independence to choose what we say yes and no to. I’m not saying that being under authority is bad, but with age comes the special privilege of deciding where your time will go.

7. More Focus on the Present

Another gift of age is an increased focus on the present moment. When most of life seems behind you, it’s natural to shift your gaze from the future and what you want to the present and what you already have. This perspective is an important antidote to a world that is often too busy to appreciate life’s ordinary pleasures.

8. Free Time to Volunteer and Help Family

With more free time comes the freedom to give back and volunteer to help others. I have seen firsthand in my own life, and in those of my friends, how impactful the role of a grandparent can be when you have young kids. They provide a welcome support to young parents and a positive influence on their grandchildren.