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Aging can be a revelation. All the truths we ran from, the wisdom we didn’t have time for, catches up with us — if we let it.

I stumbled upon abstract painting in late 2011, when I was 61. I still had three children living at home, but the youngest was 15. Suddenly I had some time to myself, so I thought, Why not try something new?

Out of nowhere and with no art background at all, I decided to buy a canvas, paint and brushes and give abstract painting a try.

I loved it. I had no idea that painting would save my life, but it surely did. Becoming an abstract artist got me creating, thinking, asking questions, learning to find my way as an artist and connecting with people, saving me from stagnation and boredom.

Just a year after trying it out, I was painting daily and had landed an exhibit of my work at a local coffee shop. Six months after that exhibit, I rented a studio space, had my first business cards made, and created accounts on Facebook and Instagram. The following year I had a website where I could post images of my work.

I never expected to learn so much about technology. In fact, I had made up my mind that I was not going to get into technology.

All that changed when I began to paint and exhibit my artwork. That’s when I got my first smartphone and learned how to text, email and post photos on social media. (While my friends saw me as a tech whiz, the truth is any child can do what I do!) My interest in painting saved me from essentially letting the world pass me by.

Soon I started calling myself an abstract artist. Since 2011, when I first started painting, my enthusiasm for painting and creating has only grown.

Longevity experts say that having a sense of purpose in our lives can help us live longer. With all of these positive changes in my life, I can’t help but wonder how others might find their passion, too.

Here are some ideas to consider:

1. Identify something you’ve always wanted to do — fly a plane, dance, cook, act, write, sew — and then just get started. Local community centers, libraries and senior centers are great places to begin your search.

2. If you have no clear interest in anything, you might consider just picking something and giving it a try. That’s what I did. I have no art training, and yet painting exploded on my scene and totally changed my life.

3. Taking a group class is a great way to open the door to an activity you overlooked in the past and make new friends. Daytime classes will most likely have older people in them. Look for classes on tai chi, chair yoga, water aerobics, etc. Trying Googling senior clubs, and you’re sure to find lots of ideas: hiking clubs, garden clubs or composting groups.

4. Volunteer. If you’re into service-oriented groups, there are many organizations out there that need volunteers. Search AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program at americorps.gov. Or get more involved in your church, mosque or synagogue.

5. If you already have a skill, consider sharing it one way or another. For instance, you could mentor a young business owner or help teenagers write their college essays.

My experiences as an abstract artist have saved me from believing that getting older is the end of anything. Our later years are actually the beginning of a time of amazing clarity, understanding and wisdom.

Carolyn Ellis, a native Washingtonian, now lives outside Dallas, where she continues to paint and write. See her paintings at carolynellisart.com.