In this blog, I'll express my 82-year-old opinions about what healthy aging means and looks like:
Physically, spiritually, socially, emotionally and mentally. In addition, I'll also alert you to where you can learn about how you can be helped to age healthier!
In my opinion, aging and how we handle it, is a combination of common sense and knowing how to cope with what the body and mind realistically encounter as we "all of a sudden" realize we're not in our teens or 20s. Most important, is knowing having good health is the most important thing we have. Following are some personal thoughts about good health and maintaining it at an advanced age:
PHYSICAL HEALTH - Again in my opinion, there's nothing more important than having good physical health. Even the slightest physical ailment can impede our daily lives. This, of course, is not news to you, but I think we can't be reminded enough how important it is to take care of ourselves as best we can. That means eating the most healthful foods.
EXERCISING daily (or when possible) and, when something as pedestrian as a cold strikes, we immediately take the correct medicines to end the problem as fast as possible. Having had numerous health issues in my life, several requiring hospitalization for near-death illnesses, I can identify with how important good health is and maintaining it by, as I mentioned, eating properly, exercising daily and taking whatever medications have been prescribed.
SPIRITUAL HEALTH - Regardless if times are good or bad for us, the power of prayer, for me, at least, has always provided peace of mind and, truthfully, it "works." I believe that daily prayer, even if only to thank the highest power for all the blessings one has, let alone to ask for solutions when needed, does provide a more healthful life.
SOCIAL HEALTH - We are social creatures and in later years we find ourselves more grateful for friends, be they new or longtime. Aside from just visits with friends, social activities such as playing cards and board games, bowling, going to live performances or movies and just talking, can enrich our lives and provide a healthier outlook on each day. Being and staying alone is not only sad, it's depressing and certainly doesn't fall under the "healthy aging" umbrella.
EMOTIONAL HEALTH - Learning to cope with or accept what life deals us, especially at advanced ages, isn't always easy, but for better emotional health, one thing I've learned is, with enough practice, one can look at whatever's been dealt with the attitude that "this is just another day" and tomorrow will be better. Learning to smile at anything adverse makes one stronger, even in the most unpleasant times.
MENTAL HEALTH - In my opinion, mental health is married to emotional health. Our emotions stem from mental acceptance or non-acceptance of what life provides, or doesn't, each day. To have better mental health, again in my opinion, one must eventually train oneself daily to not allow unpleasantness to ruin our thinking or our days. It isn't easy, but the more one does it the better one's mental health. In addition, the older we get the easier it is to do, speaking from experience here.
Thanks for reading, as always.
Physically, spiritually, socially, emotionally and mentally. In addition, I'll also alert you to where you can learn about how you can be helped to age healthier!
In my opinion, aging and how we handle it, is a combination of common sense and knowing how to cope with what the body and mind realistically encounter as we "all of a sudden" realize we're not in our teens or 20s. Most important, is knowing having good health is the most important thing we have. Following are some personal thoughts about good health and maintaining it at an advanced age:
PHYSICAL HEALTH - Again in my opinion, there's nothing more important than having good physical health. Even the slightest physical ailment can impede our daily lives. This, of course, is not news to you, but I think we can't be reminded enough how important it is to take care of ourselves as best we can. That means eating the most healthful foods.
EXERCISING daily (or when possible) and, when something as pedestrian as a cold strikes, we immediately take the correct medicines to end the problem as fast as possible. Having had numerous health issues in my life, several requiring hospitalization for near-death illnesses, I can identify with how important good health is and maintaining it by, as I mentioned, eating properly, exercising daily and taking whatever medications have been prescribed.
SPIRITUAL HEALTH - Regardless if times are good or bad for us, the power of prayer, for me, at least, has always provided peace of mind and, truthfully, it "works." I believe that daily prayer, even if only to thank the highest power for all the blessings one has, let alone to ask for solutions when needed, does provide a more healthful life.
SOCIAL HEALTH - We are social creatures and in later years we find ourselves more grateful for friends, be they new or longtime. Aside from just visits with friends, social activities such as playing cards and board games, bowling, going to live performances or movies and just talking, can enrich our lives and provide a healthier outlook on each day. Being and staying alone is not only sad, it's depressing and certainly doesn't fall under the "healthy aging" umbrella.
EMOTIONAL HEALTH - Learning to cope with or accept what life deals us, especially at advanced ages, isn't always easy, but for better emotional health, one thing I've learned is, with enough practice, one can look at whatever's been dealt with the attitude that "this is just another day" and tomorrow will be better. Learning to smile at anything adverse makes one stronger, even in the most unpleasant times.
MENTAL HEALTH - In my opinion, mental health is married to emotional health. Our emotions stem from mental acceptance or non-acceptance of what life provides, or doesn't, each day. To have better mental health, again in my opinion, one must eventually train oneself daily to not allow unpleasantness to ruin our thinking or our days. It isn't easy, but the more one does it the better one's mental health. In addition, the older we get the easier it is to do, speaking from experience here.
Thanks for reading, as always.
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