TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH

KEEPING HEALTHY MENTALLY AS WELL AS PHYSICALLY

When I grow up I want to be—

How many of you are looking forward?

It’s sad, but somewhere in there, we seem to stop looking forward and start looking back.  Somewhere, somehow, we got the idea that looking forward is having to face old age, memory loss, illness, death—

And what fun is that?

When we were younger, we were ready to face the future.  Bring it up!  No matter what life handed us, we could handle it. Then, somewhere along the way, we lost our mojo.

I’ve got news for you; that doesn’t have to be.  As long as we continue to dedicate ourselves to doing something purposeful, powerful, and positive—and never look back—we can live optimistic, and productive—and happier—lives.

Some of you won’t want to.  That’s your choice.  But to those that believe there can be better things ahead, remember—It’s Never Too Late Too Be What You Might Have Been!”

Most feared as we grow older is memory loss.

Smoking, alcohol, poor diet, stress and old age are believed to be the leading causes of memory loss.

 

I find it interesting that old age is listed because, personally, I don’t buy it.  Sure, there are other contributing factors, but research has shown that memory loss is only one of the diseases, attributed to old age, that can be avoided if one keeps himself/herself in top physical condition.

We all know that exercise and a high-quality diet are necessary to keep oneself healthy and to help avoid memory loss.  To make sure you’re getting optimal nutrition, supplements such as Omega-3 fatty acids, Gingko Biloba, Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10 and a Vitamin B Complex—with high concentrations of vitamin B12 can be used to help to maintain and improve proper brain function.  Vitamin C is also valuable in that it helps protect the cells from free radical attacks.

There are other things one should do which are extremely important.

Topping the list is a dedication to the pursuit of happiness, peace of mind and passionate interests.

A saying, attributed to Allan K. Chalmers, tells us that a person needs three things to be happy: “Something to do, someone to love and something to look forward to.”  And Tony Robbins says, “If we aren’t happy, most likely our problem is that we don’t have any goals.”

To keep the mind sharp, one must keep it active.  And one must have a goal—or goals—something to look forward to; something that excites and challenges you.  The saying “if you don’t use it, you lose it,” applies to the mind as well as the body.

I find it most discouraging to watch my peers—and even friends much younger than I—become forgetful, and mentally and physically deteriorate—just because they do nothing to prevent it.  There is so much we can do to, not only extend, but actually improve, the quality of our lives, as well as our minds.

First of all, no matter what our age, we need to have a life.  Those who sit around nursing their aches and pains sometimes look at me as if I were mad because I exercise religiously—walk, lift weights, practice yoga and do other exercises.  I follow a diet that sustains and improves my mind and body; and I take supplements.  I keep as active socially as my work will allow (dancing, theatre, lunch or dinner out with friends, etc.) and, most importantly, I work.  My mind is always busy.  Otherwise, I’d be bored to death (And boredom, my friends, is what is wrong with most of the elderly people I come in contact with).

To live a long, healthy, active life, one must keep living—in the broadest sense of the word—keep moving forward and improving the quality of your life.

If you are not already doing so, now is the time to start.  (You’ve probably guessed that I don’t believe in “retirement”).  I’ve always joked that I wanted to live to be 120 and have fun doing it.  So far, I’m on track—I’m still living and still having fun.

If you’re not, you should.

Capisce?

Believe me, it’s definitely worth a try.