Takashi Hosaka: The Power to Enjoy "Living Alone in Old Age"

"Living alone in old age" begins with the death of a spouse, which is the saddest event for a human being. The subsequent psychological challenge is called "grief work," and through this process, one overcomes sadness and re-adapts to a new environment. However, according to foreign studies, the risk of the surviving spouse dying within one year of their partner's death is 1.34 times higher for men and 1.29 times higher for women, showing that the mortality rate of the surviving spouse is high in the year following the loss. That is why I believe the "first anniversary memorial service" has significant meaning as an occasion for close relatives to gather and check on each other's health, seeing if anyone looks pale or has lost weight.

Once you overcome this first year, you enter the preparation stage for truly enjoying "living alone in old age," but the basic requirement is extending your "healthy life expectancy." To achieve this, in addition to regular health checks and taking prescribed medication, you should incorporate exercise by joining a gym or regularly taking brisk walks and doing strength training.

Next, an important point about living alone in old age is to never let it become "isolated old age." Among those with a strong determination to "never cause trouble for others," quite a few find themselves completely alone. To avoid this, it becomes necessary to make new friends—in other words, "friend-seeking activities." First, try to make friends with neighbors or people living in the same district. Join a few hobby groups at local community centers, and if someone is heading in the same direction on the way home, try striking up a conversation; you might make a new friend unexpectedly. Also, attending workshops like "How to Start Social Media" to post something or share photos can be stimulating. You might get a reaction from someone you don't know and make a new friend.

Another method for "friend-seeking" is to dig up old friendships. Class reunions are often held in one's 50s, and relationships between former classmates can deepen instantly. If you find a friend who lives surprisingly close by, your "friend-seeking" for your later years will be a great success.

Now, in old age, you finally have plenty of time and money to spend on yourself. So, try everything you've wanted to do but couldn't until now. If you get bored, stop and move on to the next thing in "rapid succession." Furthermore, after "rapid succession" comes "moving things forward." Take everything you are thinking of doing or planning for a bit further in the future and "move it forward" to do it right here and now.

Finally, I will quietly share some of the ways I want to enjoy "living alone in old age."

● Occasionally go to an electronics store, look at new products, and have a staff member explain at least one of them to you. It activates the brain.

● Take day trips. If you leave early in the morning, you can go quite far. Since you can reach Shin-Aomori from Tokyo in three hours, the Sannai-Maruyama Site is within the scope of a day trip.

● Read deeply into novels or books focusing on a certain era, and then take a one- or two-night trip. Currently, I am imagining the dynamics of human relationships from the Asuka to Nara periods through novels and planning a tour of temples I haven't visited yet.

● Try making at least one dish that you can treat others to, putting a lot of effort into it.

● Organize old photos by digitizing them and return to "that era" once in a while.

● If there is a Showa-era music program on TV, singing along loudly will likely activate your brain significantly.

● However, it is known that dementia is common among elderly people who keep the TV on all day, so stop the habit of leaving the TV on out of inertia.

● Learning a new instrument would also be fun. I'd like to at least be able to play and sing my favorite songs from my youth.

● Master a smartphone designed for seniors. You can make video calls to grandchildren or friends far away, and even book Shinkansen tickets or trips. You can use the search function to recover forgotten memories or gather new information. With a translation function, foreign travel will feel much closer.

● Occasionally spend time looking at items in a 100-yen shop and use your imagination to think about "how this could be useful in my life." It is a place where "impulse buying" is permitted.

● Have at least one "regular spot" in your neighborhood. It can be a cafe, a diner, or a bar. You will likely find more shop owners and customers you can greet.

● Attend free or inexpensive seminars or participate in classes at local community centers. I recommend "mindfulness meditation."

Now, no one will complain if you play Jazz CDs all day or read all day. Please enjoy "living alone in old age" positively, thinking, "From now on, it's my own life!"