Take Control of Aging

My vision of aging well is best characterized by this quote:

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!” – Hunter S. Thompson

In other words, I want to live well right to the very end of a long life.

This is not a fantasy.

It’s not just ‘luck’ either, although there is an element of luck involved.

It is commonly believed that the aging process is a slow and gradual decline.

We expect that over time, we will become diminished in our physical and mental abilities. 

We believe it is normal and natural for us to become less active as we age, and that our mobility will become limited.  We believe it is normal and natural for older people to become isolated and struggle with problems like dementia, loneliness and depression.  We believe that these types of problems are inevitable and will increase gradually over time.

However, aging as we know it is not inevitable, and we have more control over the aging process than many people believe.

We can extend the number of ‘good years’, when we are active, mobile, engaged and involved.  We can also compress the final period of decline into a very short time indeed.

Scientists use the term ‘healthspan’ to capture the idea of the ‘good years’.  Healthspan is defined as “the period of life spent in good health, free from the chronic diseases and disabilities of aging”.

This is to distinguish it from ‘lifespan’, which we all understand is the total number of years we live, from birth through death.  Lifespan therefore includes both healthspan as well as the final period of decline.

Our goal is to prolong our healthspan and compress the period of decline as much as possible.

The good news is that your healthspan is generally within your control.

You don’t have to be ‘lucky’.  

You can take control of your aging process.

You can feel and act like you’re 50 when you’re in your 80’s or 90’s!

You might have wrinkles and grey hair, but you can function (mentally/physically) like a 50-year old even though you are decades older.

Let’s take a look at how to do this.

• Make a decision. Every worthwhile goal starts with a commitment to pursue that goal relentlessly. Make a conscious decision that you are going to take control of the way you age.
• Never lose sight of the enemy. In the book “Younger Next Year”, the authors characterize the aging process as a “relentless tide”.  You have to constantly fight the tide, which is evil and very strong. If you look away even for a moment, you may lose your advantage. The good news is that relatively small daily efforts on your part are enough to turn the tide.
• Take small daily actions. In particular:
  • Be physically active
  • Eat healthy foods
  • Challenge yourself mentally
  • Find ways to connect with other people
  • Cultivate happiness
  • Find meaning and purpose
• Enjoy life’s adventures. The whole point is to enjoy life as much as possible, so choose daily actions that are both enjoyable and healthy.

Have you noticed that I haven’t mentioned one thing about your appearance?  Aging well is not about how you look.  It’s about how you feel and how you live.

Remember, the goal is not to arrive at our final destination in a “pretty and well-preserved body”.  The goal is to say “Wow! What a Ride!”

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