getting old

I read this excerpt recently and since my friends/family liked it, I thought I'd share it here:

1. Don’t retire. Don’t stop being engaged with meaningful work.

2. Look forward. Don’t look back. (Reminiscing doesn’t promote health.)

3. Exercise. Get your heart rate going. Preferably in nature.

4. Embrace a moderated lifestyle with healthy practices.

5. Keep your social circle exciting and new.

6. Spend time with people younger than you.

7. See your doctor regularly, but not obsessively.

8. Don’t think of yourself as old (other than taking prudent precautions).

9. Appreciate your cognitive strengths—pattern recognition, crystallized intelligence, wisdom, accumulated knowledge.

10. Promote cognitive health through experiential learning: traveling, spending time with grandchildren, and immersing yourself in new activities and situations. Do new things.

In the book, Successful Aging, by David Levitin

They seem like such basic common sense, but just how uncommon is that?

r ranson found this incredibly clever example of how getting old doesn't have to mean getting boring!

Jay,

How about renaming the post "Staying Young" instead of"getting old"?

Framing things from the perspective of what we want and are moving toward, instead of what we don't want. The language we use reflects how we think.

Also add 'being grateful' or counting your blessings daily.

I would add 2 more:-

- Try and be/remain positive!  (It's too easy to moan/complain more as we age but keeping this in balance is key.  For example, at the end of the day rather than appraising it for what went wrong, acknowledge what went well!  I ask myself 'what did I learn today?'  'what could I have done better?' 'what did I give?')

- Keep/develop your sense of humour!  It puts everything into perspective (or perspex as I used to erroneously say!) Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. As Dave Spikey, the comedian says 'laughter is the best medicine...unless you're diabetic - then it's insulin!'

https://youtu.be/SJUhlRoBL8M

Other thoughts on growing old

Many of these are good suggestions, but lots of folks seem to be hiding from the inevitable-namely that we are all going to die.  Or better said, pass on.

Most of us have done part or all of the list for decades and advice like this seems to suggest that if we don't stay active in elder years, we're doing something wrong.

It is wise to start thinking of the spiritual journey ahead and preparing for it.  Whatever your beliefs are there is a point that maybe the busyness can stop.  It is not wrong to slow down and look forward to a new kind of life on a new plain of existence. Or just to sit on the deck and look back at all you have done.  Maybe it is more important for people in their elder years to consider these things than to keep trudging on at work, attending meetings, and otherwise keeping on the human treadmill.  We've been there, done that.

Everyone has different paths or needs.

If you have had enough years, decades of the good list mentioned, you might try spending your elder years, at least in part, exploring the spiritual realm.  Suggestion: yoga, meditation, reading about eternity by enlightened authors, attending spiritual meetings, turning to a Higher Power. Talk to those with an understanding that no matter how busy this life has been or is for you, at some point it will end for you.

Blessing to all.

What an excellent thread!! Good ideas.

Barbara Allen wrote:


If you have had enough years, decades of the good list mentioned, you might try spending your elder years, at least in part, exploring the spiritual realm.  Suggestion: yoga, meditation, reading about eternity by enlightened authors, attending spiritual meetings, turning to a Higher Power. Talk to those with an understanding that no matter how busy this life has been or is for you, at some point it will end for you.
ll.

Why wait until you are old to do these things if you are that way inclined?  The only certainty that we have in this life is that one day we will die, the uncertainty is not knowing when.  One could die tomorrow and never reach old age. Today is the only time that you have, make each day count and if you live in the moment called now, there is no fear of tomorrow, old age or death.

But maybe this is reaching the boundaries of the cider press, .