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Health Connections
Living The Good Life
 Everyone hates getting old. People want to stay young or at least middle-aged. But Father Time just keeps marching on! It seems that health, not age, is used more now to determine one's status.
Old age sets in when disease and disability starts to limit us in our everyday lifestyle. There are those who are chronically ill, injured, or those who have had some type of major tragedy. It takes a big effort to stay on the positive side of life when this happens. Then there are those who are old at the age of 50. Having no major problems, they have concluded in their mind that life is already on a downward slope. I love the way Ludington and Diehl word their thoughts in their 2002 book, Health Power. They say, " It's a matter of perspective. For physical strength, energy and fewer ailments, youth is better. But for increased confidence, better judgment and insight, less anxiety and more freedom, older can be better."
These authors also say that premature aging and disability are largely due to lifestyle factors. We know smoking, excessive alcohol, and drug abuse, including caffeine, has taken it's toll on the young and old alike. Other problems contributing to growing old before our time is obesity, diabetes, depression and lack of exercise.
After all is said and done, I think we can say, even with limitations, our frame of mind plays a big part in who we are and who we are becoming.(That's true of the younger generation as well!) Now is the time to make sure we do our part to guard against growing old before our time. Long term goals are good to keep our perspective of life alive with enthusiasm.
Is there something you've always wanted to try? Some place you have wanted to visit? Some contribution you want to make to others? List these things and look forward to them. Then make them happen.
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"Like a morning dream, life becomes more and more bright the longer we live,
and the reason of everything appears more clear."
~Jean Paul Richter~
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