People sometimes ask me what I mean by Positive and Functional Aging. Someone asked again last week. So I thought I’d rewrite this 10 year old blog post as a 12 point list of what I mean. All the points interrelate with one another, and this list is by no means complete. In fact, if you have additional points to add, feel free to let me know (see below). The items on this list are good to strive for but some might be difficult to reach, or even unreachable for a few, due to very advanced age, disability, disease or injury.
When you are Healthy, Fit and have an abundance of personal energy (Positive and Functional Aging) . . .
- You are able to do nearly all the things that you personally want to do on a day to day basis.
- You have a strong and effective immune system, helping you combat long, lingering chronic illness.
- You are mobile, flexible, and able to move your muscles and joints through a full range of motion, limited only by injury or disability.
- Your muscles and bones are healthy and strong. You are able to push things, pull things, lift things, carry things, bend and twist, keep your balance, and move from point A to point B at your own leisure.
- You have a strong infrastructure of ligaments, tendons, joints and internal organs.
- You have a strong cardio-respiratory system.
- You are able to maintain reasonably good posture. There can be challenges to posture due to disabilities or injury.
- You have the Personal Energy to get through the day with a smile on your face and energy in your demeanor.
- You have a high degree of enthusiasm for life and depression is only fleeting at most. You have a positive attitude about living.
- You have the ability to overcome inertia. When you want to do something, you go ahead and do it, moving out of your immediate comfort zone.
- You are friends with the floor. You have the ability to get down to the floor and up again with little difficulty, but probably with support if you are a mature senior. You are able to catch yourself or slow yourself in the event of a fall, to prevent or minimize any injury.
- You feel good physically and are comfortable in your own skin. You enjoy the experience of being alive.
This list is certainly not complete. Some may have other ideas as to their definitions of Positive and Functional Aging. Those listed above are some of mine. Please feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
You get most of your functional energy from consistent exercise, nutritious food, plenty of oxygen, sufficient rest and sleep, and a Positive Attitude toward yourself and your life. And that’s what Seniorflow.net and these blog articles are all about.
Thank you for reading this SeniorFlow Moment.