If you're one of the very few, very lucky, babyboomers without medical challenges, please accept my sincerest congratulations. But if, like me, you're one of the vast majority of seniors with health issues who sometimes think (don't we all?) that you're a little unlucky, just consider the alternative. I know a lot of people who never got the chance to get aches and pains...
A friend of mine, 79 and a lifelong athlete, was recently diagnosed with macular degeneration. He didn't even blink (no pun intended), and only talked about what he had to do to continue living life as he always has. He's a pretty vibrant guy, tall and muscular, and I'm pretty sure he could kick my ass in spite of being 20 years older than me. He was already making transportation arrangements "just in case" he couldn't comfortably drive anymore. He wasn't gonna wait until the worst might happen. I wanna be like him when I grow up...
Another friend, almost 65 years old, finally had to have a troublesome knee replaced. Never much of an athlete, he's still going to the gym every day to rehabilitate the knee. "It would have been easy to hobble through the rest of my life with a cane, but the hell with that!." he said. He's no gym rat – he's just another person who's voted for quality of life...
I've often heard it said that the day you don't want to drag yourself to the gym is the one day that you've got to go. Regular exercise, both aerobic and weight-bearing, is the only way to maintain muscle mass, strengthen waning stability, and stave off aging. Along with diet and sleep, exercise is the critical component in managing your aging body. Don't want to have to use a cane? Go to the gym...
And speaking of ego, if you're not used to needing help, then
swallow some of that long-held pride and let friends and family give
a helping hand. It's all about common sense – and good management...
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