Parent Your Parents

??Stayin' Alive?? Somehow, I thought that if I worked out, participated in weight training, and solved crosswords and Wordle, I would be healthy and avoid arthritis, bursitis, hypertension, dementia, and heart disease.??I’m wrong. The Guardian just reported that aging has??“bursts”, one at fortyish and the second at sixtyish. No one knows if there’s a third as you travel through your eightieth year. We know that aging is the most important known risk factor for chronic diseases.???The older we get, the more progressive the degeneration of tissues, which impacts the function of vital organs.?? For a moment, I gave up.??“It is so unfair,” I thought, “I've kept myself in shape all my life. “ ?Then, I figure it out - to prevent disease we must prolong the aging process. Great!??How does that happen???Even though this author has told you many times, I will quote Sanjay Gupta, MD,?a renowned neurosurgeon and medical correspondent, and author of?Keep Sharp, How to Build a Better Brain at any Age.??He has five principles: Move (exercise), Discover (learn), Rest (sleep and manage stress), Nourish (eat right), and Connect (have friends and make new friends). MOVE: whether walking, jogging, swimming, or engaging in team sports, movement is key to keeping our bodies in optimal condition. Not only does it improve cardiovascular health and strengthen muscles, but it also releases endorphins, promoting mental well-being. "Staying alive" begins with simply putting one foot before the other.??(Sex is also exercise!) If you’re constantly?DISCOVERING,?you find that life is a journey; there are opportunities to learn, grow, and adapt. Whether it's traveling to new places, reading books, or engaging in hobbies, discovering them keeps our minds sharp and engaged. REST?is not just sleep; it’s also stress management.??Stress is a silent killer. Recognize when you’re mentally overburdened and put yourself first. Managing stress mitigates the harmful effects on our physical and mental health.??Our culture doesn’t prioritize the need to recharge (getaway) and sleep.??Do both! NOURISH?is nothing more than eating well.??What we consume plays a significant role in our overall health. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains while limiting processed foods and excess sugar is ideal.??I sometimes indulge in guilty pleasures like croissants and chocolate, and I suggest you do the same.??It makes it easier to eat well. CONNECTING?is the most important of the needs we have.??Think about it, friends will feed you, take you to the hospital, exercise with you, and remind you to nap!??Whether it's family, friends, or community, cultivating deep connections provides emotional support, reduces stress, and enhances our sense of purpose. There you have it from an expert’s view (Dr. Gupta, not me).??Aging is a fact of life, but disease from aging is preventable, or, at the very least, you can postpone it and LIVE EVERY DAY!?

Great news if you're over sixty... sex gets better! This link below is an article that was one of my many resources when I was researching sex for my book, Boomers Booming: How to Thrive After Sixty-Five and Have Good Sex. https://lnkd.in/e66X7ggk

ALL THE POSITIVES ASSOCIATED WITH GROWING OLDER: ? We are more complex, which allows us to pull resources from a myriad of areas; ? We are slower, but who said that slower = worse? Usually, taking one’s time on a project means covering all the bases, which gives us a deeper understanding of the task at hand; ? We have age-developed strengths, such as wisdom and creativity, which we’re much more willing to deploy to find a solution; ? We know how to compensate! Maybe we find it harder to multiply or divide in our head, but we always have our iPhones at the ready to help! Excerpt from Boomers Booming, available October 8, 2024!