A Metaphor for Optimism

By Jane A Malkoff MSN RN NP

Thesarus.com lists the following synonyms for the word aging; crumbling, declining, developing, fading, fermenting, maturing, mellowing, slumping, stale, waning, getting along, getting on, senescent, and wearing out.  Clearly, we have some work to do in regard to balancing out the current views of aging.  However, aging is not completely negative in the Unites States (US) regardless of the words found in the thesaurus.  As it turns out, being 65 or older in the US may actually be a metaphoric “cloud with a silver lining”.

Poet and essayist John Milton is accredited with first pointing to the silver lining in his work “Comus” in 1637.  “Was I deceived? Or, did a sable cloud turn forth her silver lining on the night?”  From this, the metaphor stuck and “every cloud has a silver lining” has come to represent a search for the good in an otherwise difficult circumstance.  Navigating aging can present quite difficult circumstances at times and silver linings are most welcome.

According to multiple sources including Columbia University, the US ranks consistently in the top 10 for the best health and well-being of persons aged 65 and over.  For what reasons did the US earn such high rankings?  Older adults in the US are less likely to experience age discrimination thus paving the way for employment as well as educational opportunities.  Additionally, when compared to older adults in other countries, the older adults in the US have greater overall safety ratings as well as better access to social connections.

At Clarity, we spend a significant amount of our efforts clearing the clouds away for those 65 years of age and older and we believe it is our responsibility to draw attention to silver linings when we find them.

Here are few more metaphors we encounter each day and believe you may relate to them as well;

*Chaos is the breeding ground of order

*Laughter is the best medicine

*Don’t judge a book by its cover