Ask anyone nosing about the seventh decade of life, and you won’t find too many brags about how spry, well-toned, and athletic they are. OK, there will be a few. But for the most part, if you remain healthy, you are occupied with staying that way. If your health status has slipped, you are interested in regaining it, or at the least keeping what you have. You are not going to get any younger. You are only going up from the seventies into the eighties. Some of this requires planning and work.
Doing the right thing
I abandoned the excesses of a mispent youth* early. And as I aged, I was grateful for the maturity that allowed me to do that. Excess consumption of alcohol and tobacco doesn’t aid you in living a longer, healthier life. Rumors of the preserving effects of alcoholic pickling, or smoking, are greatly exaggerated.
It may seem trite, but things that work are exercise, good eating habits, and a restful night’s sleep. I avoid taking unprescribed medication. I am infamous in my doctor’s office for asking about everything prescribed. I’ve left medical practices where the answers are sparse and the attitude is “Trust me, I’m an MD!” Years spent working in operating rooms and on med/surg floors, taking care of patients, taught me that the best physicians relish the role of teacher. All the rest depend upon their credentials.
One final thing. Our ability to think and analyze are at best, loaners. We need to treat our mental abilities with care. I feel that it is very much a use it or lose it situation. My blog is part of my strategy to use it, tune it, and keep it functioning to capacity.
Sorry, no Fountain of Youth, magical woo-woo, or supplements from the gurus of longevity.
*Read deeper into my blog for the details- It was wicked but I loved it!
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Here’s something funny. You know AI interests me. I asked Google’s AI what I could expect health-wise in my 70’s. It was pretty grim. Then I asked it, “What are the positive things of living into my 70s?” It gave me all that new-agey, hippy-trippy, touchy-feelly stuff like, “Freedom to pursue your interests” As I read the list I cracked up. It left the BIG thing off the list which is not being dead. I shared the Google list with ChatGPT and asked it what was missing. It found it, “That you’re still here?” it said. Yep.
Personally I don’t think we realize throughout our lives how much of life is a negotiation to remain upright and in motion. Anyway, I didn’t, but every step we take is a small victory in the battle of not falling.
While I do not aspire to be the “last man standing” I do aspire to living a as good and useful life as I can. There’s much truth in what you say, Martha.
Wait a second…almost all of my peers from the sixties and seventies are already gone… SHIT!!! I am the last man standing…who’d of thunk?
My old dog and her old human had a sweet walk this morning, slow because the human hurts (thanks recovery) but beautiful. I think that’s the reward for being the last man standing. I get to watch a hawk and enjoy my dog.
The scary part about the 7th decade for me has been losing friends. One day they’re here the next gone. I walk everyday, but I’m starting to wonder if that will be enough. Maybe next I’ll try “pickle ball”.
Sigh…I hear you…