A New Attitude about Longevity

1. Break free from denial. Acknowledge that one day all of us will be old—if we are fortunate. Some people avoid learning about aging out of fear. Or they believe if they don’t think about it, it will never happen. Ironically, avoidance can lead to premature aging. A recent study showed that a positive attitude about the topic of aging could add an average of 7.5 years to a person’s life.
2. Start thinking long-term. When ragtime composer Eubie Blake hit 100, he famously said, “If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.” You’re never too young to think about  healthy aging. Your risk for an unhealthy future can be greatly reduced by lifestyle choices you start making today.
3. Avoid a “what’s-the-use?” mind-set. No matter how long you’ve been a junk food junkie or couch potato, it’s never too late to enhance your quality of life. Family history and genetics account for about one-third of life expectancy. The remaining two-thirds is a combination of nutrition, physical activity, and attitude.
4. Nurture your spirit. Studies on centenarians have found that spirituality and a sense of humor are the most common traits in people who reach that longevity benchmark—all over the world and at every socioeconomic level.
5. Recognize that you are not alone. We are in the midst of what has been called an age wave. Every 8 seconds, someone in the United States turns 50. Do what you can to stay healthy and ride the wave!

by Eleanor Brownn

About Eleanor Brownn