grow older better

Category: Aging

  • What keeps you young?


    Aging is a universal process…we can slow it's effects on our body and brain but we can't stop the process.

    Every so often I see an article about what helps us stay functioning and healthy and what is bad for us.

    When I read of "bad" stuff in food and cosmetics I get more angry at federal agencies that "allow" a certain level of "bad" stuff in our food, air water and other things.  It's called an "acceptable" level….but what might be acceptable and safe for one person may be poison for another…

    So in the face of all this – what does keep one young?  How does one "do" healthy aging?

    Here is some of what keeps me young:

    cup of coffeeI can read that coffee is bad for me and then I read that coffee is good for me.  I don't allow either thought to change my coffee habits…I love my morning coffee and have for a very very long time and coffee makes me feel great and hence helps me stay young. 

    I love my pets and they also keep me young because I walk the dog a few times a daySheba the cat – which is good for him and me.  And my cat, Sheba,  is pure fun.  Having pets is part of who I am – if I ever had to live without a pet that would be very depressing and would therefore age me. 

    Friends and social interactions keep me young.  I dog walk with neighbors so that's a two-fer and we have a very friendly neighborhood where "everyone knows your name" and there are few secrets – but it's a situation we laugh about – and laughing keeps us young too.

    We know exercise is good for us and that it keeps our heart and body in better shape than does sitting around all day.  But do I get as much exercise as I need?   Probably not… it's too easy for me to skip exercise and that is something I most definitely am going to work on …… <later>

    Being online keeps me young too.  The daily interactions with persons from all over the world and of all different ages makes me use a lot of brain cells.  We chat about different topics, I am up to date on world events and my brain gets a serious work out.

    What keeps you young?

    Pleas post a comment below about this – thank you

  • Giving Thanks

    Happy Thanksgiving or Happy Thursday

    I love Thanksgiving – but it has not been a family holiday in ages and has rather become an extended-family holiday where friends and visitors gather for a pot luck feast.  This was true in Boston, then in D.C. and now here in Portland.

    What started years ago, well before I moved here, is what is called "Orphan Thanksgiving" – and it has become an anticipated event.

    Many years ago, my neighbors were staying here for Thanksgiving and put out an invite to anyone who was also not going anywhere.  Since it was such fun, it has since become the destination spot for Thanksgiving – so much so that fewer go away and instead arrive with visiting family and friends.

    As we are a small neighborhood most everyone knows everyone else and a relaxing day with all sorts of good food to eat and good wine and beer to drink makes for a grand afternoon and evening.  [With football games on of course!]

    And we all live within walking distance so there is never a need to drive and be in traffic…..

    So readers, whether you spend toady with family, biological or extended, or take the time to get away for a vacation, enjoy today and remember that being social is good for your health!

    PS Don't forget to share lots of your social-ness with those 4 footed neighbors and family : – )

    In our neighborhood the water fowl are already gathering – they know lots of bread crumbs are coming today….


  • being thankful


    I love Thanksgiving – now that I am an adult.  thanksgiving pot luck

    As a child, I did not like it  – we spent the day with relatives and I was bored – it was the pre-TV days.

    Most of those relatives were not child oriented and had nothing around for me to do.   [Well – I did get to really really love the Bronx Zoo.]

    As I got older I said no to those family outings and my parents invited the relatives to our house.  Then I could disappear into my room where I had "stuff" to amuse me – or I could skip out and go to a friend's house.

    After I moved to Boston, I started doing Thanksgiving with friends there and those friends became family.  My mother came up sometimes but then she moved to Florida and her Thanksgiving visits were less frequent.

    Out in Portland, Thanksgiving is a neighborhood potluck event.  It started several years before my arrival – and is a fun filled afternoon – good food, good wine and beer and super company … It's become so popular that few plan on going anywhere for Thanksgiving.   We invite friends and relatives to come here.  We stay put as most can walk to the event and we are all thankful for all that we have.

    What are you thankful for this year?  health?  wellness?  friends?  pets?  

    We all have a lot to be thankful for and although Thanksgiving is the main day for giving thanks – being thankful or grateful is something we can be everyday – all year long!

  • Holidays and Family = ?

    Holidays PLUS family equals [what] for you?

    Holidays can be very,  and I mean VERY,  stressful for grown ups who are spending that time with family of origin [those you had around when you were little.]

    Why?  People tend to have difficulty with change.  If you go back to the house and family you grew up with – it is often hard for them, and you,  to act differently than when you were all younger. 

    Parents tend to treat grown children as children and siblings tend to display all those not-so-lovely sibling rivalries.  As you want to be, or try to be an adult – there is a human tendency to revert to that lowest common denominator – family snipping.

    Can it be changed?  Difficult, but not impossible.  Change requires that all acknowledge that change has occurred and that we are all very different now.  Harder still at the old homestead.

    Solutions?  Neutral territory helps – meet NOT at the home of a family member but at a place no one has history with.  I admit this takes away from the idea of "family" holiday – but is it really going to be a pleasant one if your are at your parents or siblings home thinking STRESS  now – even before going?

    Your solutions? Please leave a comment

  • After the rainstorm

    I usually miss the start of the rainbows when they are brightest – especially the double ones – but today I was lucky


    double rainbow

     

    rainbow with airplane