We have the capacity to have deep, moving, insightful thoughts about our lives and the world around us. But our daily habits, routines, and responsibilities often soak up our available time and attention. Give yourself the opportunity to think, to question, and to ponder, and you will enjoy not only the fruits of an occasional good idea but the joy of thought itself. At seventy-eight, Harry took his thirty-two-foot sailboat out for a trip . . . around the world. At eighty-eight, he thought it was time to circle the globe again. “I like being alone at sea,” he says. “I like the challenge of ocean crossing. I’m always delighted to be back among people, but after a while, I wish I was back at sea again.
“The way to stay young is to stay active physically and mentally. If you’re sailing the seas, you have to be constantly engaged in the process.”
But in calm waters Harry can afford to take some time to read the history, poetry, and mystery books he brings with him on board, listen to whatever news reports he can pick up on the radio,and think. “There’s plenty of time for reflecting on things when you are out there,” he says. Harry’s trips are not just about being at sea. When he reaches a port, he likes to explore the area. A small village in Japan even threw a celebration for him, sending area schoolchildren to greet Harry upon his arrival and to listen to him speak of his adventures.
A retired chemist, Harry focused on creating long-range research plans for his company while he was working. And he’s still making long-range plans for himself. But he thinks this will be his last trip around the world. “After all,” he says, “the boat’s getting pretty old.”
People who said they were very busy or stressed were 17 percent less likely to say they felt that they adequately thought through the decisions they made.