This is Part 2, a continuation of last week Questions for YOU, from the book, Aging or Ageless, by Ron Zeller, about your attitude about aging. These are my answers. Please get a feel for them and then copy the questions and write your own answers. It can be quite eye opening.,
From p. 81. The Myth of Me:
Who or what do YOU say you are?
I am an 85 year old male who wants to continue to live an active, productive lifestyle. I am married and recently moved to a Retirement Community in Ashburn, Virginia, 30 miles West of Washington, DC. My wife and I are enjoying the people and the things we are able to contribute to the community. We go on “day dates” and “overnighters” on occasion.
What do you say are your limits?
At age 85, I have a ton of energy. I am healthy and reasonably fit. I have some challenges and occasional setbacks but I work to keep them under control.
I have the physical limits that go with an 85 year old body. Yes, I know, my body is not all of me. But I have sore spots, some arthritis and weak tendons that preclude me from over exertion in some physical areas. I have arthritis in some of my joints and some pain and inflammation. But I am doing my best to control it. So far I have been reasonably successful at it.
I have a positive attitude about life and plan on doing a lot of stuff with my wife and expand my own capabilities and possibilities.
When did YOU decide that about yourself?
As I approached my 70th birthday, I made some major lifestyle changes. I put alcohol behind me, lost 30 pounds, got fitter, and started The Come Alive Project.com, which evolved into SeniorFlow.net
I had a heart valve replaced through open heart surgery in June of 2014 and that told me that I can keep on going and going and going. That artificial valve deteriorated and 10 years later, almost to the day, I had a TAVR (Trans Arterial Valve Repair/Replacement) to repair it. I spend 15 days in the hospital and my muscles seriously deteriorted through lack of activity. I am still rebuilding my leg strength from that deterioration.
From p. 92
- Complete all the Exercises in this Chapter.
- Begin to look at aging in our culture. Notice the assumptions, beliefs, thoughts, feelings and behaviors that to along with getting older. What does everyone know about getting older?
I answer much of the first part in my blog articles (SeniorFlow Moments). Most people believe that age means deterioration and decay. While in many cultures, age means wisdom and respect, in our Western Culture, age means illness, shuffling gait, bent over posture and loss of mental capacity. I WILL NOT let this happen to me.
- How do others use age as an excuse, and how do they limit themselves because of their age?
People use their perceived (or real) loss of physical capacity as an indicator that life is coming to an end. They believe they can’t DO things because of pain, fear of falling, lack of strength or mobility or both — resulting from aging.
People blame age for this loss of capacity when they are perfectly capable of recovering and maintaining that capacity if they want to. Yes, body parts will deteriorate over time but it is up to us, to keep them in good order as long as possible.
- Look for older people who are being ageless. Find people for whom age appears transparent and isn’t an issue. List ten people you consider to be undefined by their age, except in the context of how extraordinary they are for their age.
Willy Nelson, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards , Jack LaLanne (Deceased), Dick Van Dyke, Paul Harvey (Deceased), Clint Eastwood.
I would add to that, a number of the people in this Retirement Community who are in their 90s and seem as active as when most of us are in our 60s. - Notice all the people who are resigned to aging as if it is an inescapable factor. These are people who have given up on life and who have stopped playing big, avoiding life activities because they believe they are too old. Imagine what their life could be like if they DECIDED to live an ageless life.
There are so many of them — so many people who are giving in to aging. My goal is to make seniors WANT to COME ALIVE to live long, healthy, active lives, filled with energy and enthusiasm, so that they won’t want to be moved to an Assisted Living Facilities, and into people I want to be around and engage with. (NOTE: I am now living with my wife in an Independent Living Retirement Community and am around active, lively, energetic people who are fun to be around.
NOW YOU DO IT!
Copy these questions, delete my answers and insert your own. It may change your own thinking about aging.
Thank you for reading this SeniorFlow Moment. I welcome your comments. I refer you back to last week’s post for details about the book and how to get it.