Attitude determines how we manage the challenges of advancing age. It is an outlook that creates a posture in life. It deepens as time goes by and is manmade; not a gift of nature.

Attitude is earned by honestly analyzing our reactions to people and events. This can teach us where and how we need to change. Automatic or constant it is not. It is honest work.

With our mind open, the life of others can sometimes give us the heartfelt incentive needed for change, a ‘kick in the conscious.’

Let me share an example with you.

Reading and music are my intellectual hobbies. As I do not play an instrument, I ventured into writing and listening. An autobiography was a goal I thought I could handle. To learn the craft, I bought many books and courses on nonfiction writing. With these arrows in my quiver, I felt prepared to start writing memories of my early years. I learned much about myself which I had forgotten. Fascinating stuff! But editing my ruminations gave me no literary satisfaction. With that, my enthusiasm diminished, but not my desire to write.

As the saying goes, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”And so he did! Where I found the book, I do not remember. ‘Please, not another one!’ was my initial thought. But I could not resist taking home and promptly devouring On Writing Well by William Zinsser. Other books he wrote soon followed.

Zinsser was a journalist and editor of the New York Tribune, a professor at Yale and other institutes of higher learning, and a contributor to the American Scholar. He travelled widely but always lived in New York City. I thoroughly embraced his words and now use the professor as my guide for writing, as best as I can, with modesty.

I wrote to Professor Zinsser expressing my feelings and gratitude. His reply touched me deeply and shall always resonate in my soul. Among other sentiments, he welcomed me to the octogenarian years which he found to be surprisingly rich. It was only then I learned that he was turning partially blind beyond the ability to read or write. I cannot image blindness for any person, let alone a professional writer.

That is the sharing attitude of a brave individual. I cannot offer a more poignant example of a life-affirming attitude.

We are proud to welcome George Adolph of La Quinta as a regular contributor to our Senior Health section. George can be reached at [email protected].

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