How to Grow Older Without Growing Old

Watching your numbers go up on the age scale, it's easy to fall for the attitude that "it's all down hill after 50." While downhill isn't a bad direction, you fail yourself if you believe that things will only get worse in the latter part of your life.
Never in history has there been so much evidence to the contrary.
Never before has there been so much knowledge and so many ways to make the rest of our lives fun, interesting, productive and fulfilling. Read on to find out how to make sunset the best part of the day.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Courage
• Determination
• Forgiveness
• The willingness to work

1. 
   Many bulbs make up this cactus.

   Take care of your assets, all of them, not just money. Financial planners and advisors are quick to tell us what to do about our finances. All our other assets deserve at least as much attention: our physical, mental and spiritual life; our abilities and capabilities; our family and friends; our community, country and world. Think of yourself as the caretaker of all these parts of you that together make a whole person.

2. 
   Look for Rainbows.

   Reflect on each of these assets. What is the current condition of each one? What areas could be improved? What ones are flailing away without much direction or support from you? Accept the current condition of each asset. Don’t waste time wishing for things that aren’t there. Don’t dwell on ifs: if I had more money, if I felt better, if my kids were different, if my spouse would only do what I think she should, if I didn’t have to pay so many taxes.

3. 
   Taking on the obstacles.

   Consider first the being that is you. “Use it or lose it.” Apply this to your body’s health. Exercise all parts of it regularly. Start in a realistic manner. If you haven’t been doing any physical activity, start by walking up a flight of stairs instead of taking the elevator, or by walking around the block or parking your car at the far end of the parking lot so you will have to walk a bit to get to the store.
   Try using your brain in some new ways. Learning new things keeps the mind active in the some way that using the legs keeps them working.
   Do things that are good for your spirit. That might be going to church or worshiping a superior being in some way, or it might be communing with nature. Do what makes you feel “whole” which comes from the same root word as holy.

4. 
   Group Support

   Think about the condition of your relationships. Do you have people with whom you can share both tears and laughter? Are your family relationships in good condition? If not, what can be done to improve them?
   Be introspective, that is, look at yourself as openly and honestly as possible. Are you mad at someone? Do you carry grievances from years ago? You’ve heard of downsizing in housing. Now would be a good time to reduce the amount of baggage, the stuff we carry around with us, that gnawed at us like a rat in the closet.
   One way of doing this is to write down whatever bugs us. Write it out until it is gone.
   Have the courage to drop people from your life who do nothing but complain about everything. Ask yourself: does this person make me feel better? Does she bring something to my life? We can only carry the weight of so much negativity before it impacts us.

5. 
   Sunset in Louisanna

   Think of yourself as a part of your community, nation and world. Participate! Learn what is going on and become active in the way that best suits you. Volunteer. Meet people by going to the same coffee shop every morning. Prepare yourself to be an informed voter and then vote. Do what you can to make the world green!

6. 
   Getting ready to jump.

   Do no harm! Become a whole, healthy and happy individual by working on all these parts. Remove anger from your life and trash from your neighborhood. When you take care of all of your assets, each one complements another. Healthy relationships contribute to the health of your body. Feeling good physically makes you more inclined to be good to others. The science is in: when we take care of ourselves, have good and loving relationships with others, and contribute to the greater good, we become whole and happy people. The alternative is bleak. Do what makes your heart sing!

Tips & Warnings

• If not now, when?

[RachelMoore]

on 12/10/2008 Good advice and insight.