I’ve always been an advocate of lifelong learning. At 94, that’s a lot of learning. I’m not alone. “Driven to seek personal growth, 55% of Americans age 45 and older are actively learning new things,” according to a recent AARP study on lifelong learning. (
AARP Research, March 2022)
Aging is often associated with loss, but there’s still more to gain.
I talk to my peers, some of whom say “why bother?” when it comes to self-improvement. It seems like they’ve decided they are “too old,” wondering where they will apply newfound learning. I think, “why, just because of your age, do you have to stop being interesting, making new friends, or sharing what you’ve learned with your family?” Sure, it may get harder. I’ve accepted that I need to take my walker with me whenever I leave my apartment. Regardless of how I feel about it, it gives me freedom and surety that I won’t fall.
I say, “don’t die until you’re dead.”
I’m currently enrolled in a course at the
Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning, called
Living Wisdom: Engaging Soulful Jewish Learning. The course is deeply philosophical. It’s exciting at my age to hear new ideas and find my perceptions about life and G-d are still evolving. The Melton courses are online (and easily accessed via a simple link—you can always ask your adult children or grandchildren to help you get set up if need be). When I was still in Deerfield, IL I attended courses in person at Northwestern University. They are presented by the Northwestern Alumni Association, however, you don’t have to be an alumnus to attend. You can
watch recordings of some of the past lectures online.
Why is it important to constantly be learning?
You continue to benefit yourself by learning and you continue to benefit your family. I share with them what I’m studying and learning. We are a learning and sharing family. Taking courses allows me to be a contributor to this family value.
The good news is that many courses and educational opportunities are available to older adults at no cost.
Colleges Offering Free Classes for Older Adults
According to MarketWatch, there were 512,000 students age 50 or older enrolled in undergraduate institutions in the fall of 2015. (
MarketWatch, May 28, 2018) Some may be going back for career changes following layoffs or attrition during the pandemic. For others, classes offer socialization and a chance to keep your mind sharp. And Universities are helping by offering reduced or even free tuition, as this state-by-state listing from Best Values Schools shows. (
BestValuesSchools.org, March 21, 2022)
I was delighted to find that Universities across my home state of California offer tuition-free enrollment for students who are 60 or older. (Seniorly Resource Center, June 8, 2021) UCLA’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute has partnered with the University of California system to offer free, non-credit classes for people aged 50 and older. These tuition-free courses are available in the Los Angeles area through the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) at its extension near the main campus. Classes at Los Angeles Community Colleges also are available tuition free.
Make a Commitment to Yourself
The desire to learn often starts with creativity. We may have lived a long time, but the world has continued to change as we have aged. There’s always more to learn. Plus, not all classes have to be intellectual—I also take advantage of offerings in the community where I live and attend chair fitness classes five mornings a week.
The important thing is to make a commitment to yourself. When people complain about being sad and lonely, I say, “it’s all up to you. Do you want to reach out and make friends? Do you want to work on the sadness in your life? Along with aging can come depression, alcoholism, sadness, and loneliness. Many people, including me, have lost spouses.
What I have realized is that you have to decide to be a good friend to yourself. Do you mind being alone with yourself? I struggled with that when I moved into an independent living community for older adults earlier this year. This was a big adjustment. I made notes to myself, and set goals. I actively introduced myself and made friends. I forced myself to leave my apartment to take walks outside and sit with others and initiate conversations. I met one person who was an artist. With others, we’ve shared stories about serving in WWII. One man was in the Secret Service. Another talked about when he was wounded in Korea.
The issue is this: YOU have to decide how you want to live in your older years.
You can go on a computer and go on tours around the world. I went to Kobe Japan, Israel, and the Art Institute of Chicago all in one morning, all online. There are courses to take, books, discussion groups, and life…there’s an entire earth to explore when you go outside, when you open your mind and seek to learn. No matter your age.
