Aging is normally defined by the number of years we have lived on Mother Earth. This has led to the general view that when we reach 65 we graduate from being older adults and qualify to be treated as “seniors”. This assumed interpretation means we may be “over the hill” and that our physical, social and mental capabilities are starting to decline.
I believe this is a myth because achieving our “senior hood phase” does not mean we have to retire and dramatically alter our lifestyles. I believe It simply means that our internal alarm clock has reminded us to recharge our living philosophy and attitude. It is a signal that encourages us to continue to make choices that will allow us to maintain and enhance our well-being. In particular it encourages us to embrace a lifestyle that will allow us to enjoy healthy active aging.
Following are some suggestions I have gained from my readings and experiences to date. I believe all seniors can adapt and relate to them in their own creative ways:
Learning – Getting older does not mean we have to stop learning. There are many forms of learning that serve to stimulate our brain, keep our minds sharp, bolster our memories and help our concentration. This may include – hobbies – games – reading -studying – listening to speakers with specialized knowledge – absorbing news reports and staying aware of current events – sharing stories – exchanging opinions and views and limiting our exposure to the negative news TV reports.
Exercise – We should never cease undertaking a daily walk and/or participating in supervised indoor exercises and/or following medical regimes to help us maintain our coordination and flexibility.
Social Activities – Continuing to socialize and maintain happy family relationships, connections with our peer group and participation in social activities is a must we should never abandon. We should never allow loneliness to take charge of our feelings.
Diets – Enjoying a healthy and balanced daily diet, remembering to take our prescriptions, minimizing our alcoholic tastes and eliminating are important daily habits.
Sleep – Medical experts advise us to maintain our sleep pattern and enjoy 7 to 8 hours a night to help energize our body and our minds. If our mental and physical senses advise us to also take a daily nap to help optimize our wellness we should respect this self help advice.
Adhering to a personalized wellness regime will help provide many benefits. It will help make us feel better, look better, help our heart to purr and support our immune system in fighting off illness.
Assuming command of a healthy lifestyle will allow us to continue to enjoy a sense of humor, bolster our self-confidence, chase away negativity and maintain a healthy and optimistic outlook. Let’s resolve to clearly demonstrate that aging can be a very special blessing that we can each nurture, respect and enjoy every day.
