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About EHW
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How to Live a Long Time Without Growing Old By Charles Nash At 82, Charles is the healthiest, fittest, most active and not to mention the nicest senior I know. A dear friend of the family, my sister suggested that I should ask Charles his secret of staying young and living a long time without growing old. Here is what Charles has to say: A human being is a very complex piece of machinery with its physical, mental and spiritual components, each one of which needs a special kind of care. Physically, a human is like a car. It must be fed the right kind of fuel, kept at a reasonable temperature and operated sensibly for top performance. If left inactive it will rust and eventually fall apart - so shall we. To enhance my physical condition, I pay attention to what I eat. Over the years, I found that eating too much fat and sugar will not only lengthen the waist line but shorten the life span. We are particular about the kind of gas and lube oil we use in the car, but many of us pay little attention to the list of ingredients on a can of soup or package of junk food. Do we really need all those chemicals with the long names that are called preservatives in prepackaged foods? Fresh fruits, vegetables and homemade yogurt taste so much better. One of the most important thing I do to stay healthy is to keep active. Exercise may make me tired, and aggravate my arthritis a little but isn't it a nice feeling? A brisk walk, a thrilling ski run, a good paddle in a kayak, a day's hike in our beautiful mountains, a good tennis match will exert the muscles but they replace the body's worn out cells with new ones that will be ready for the next adventure. When I have become used to my favorite physical activities, I keep on doing them. I always try to remember that my heart and lungs like to be used sensibly. They are vital parts so exercise them to keep them in good shape.Mental health is an important part of our well-being. I keep my life as simple but as satisfying as I can. I am not concerned about those who roar past me in the fast lane. Some of them end up in the physical, mental, financial or emotional ditch while others progress steadily toward their own goals -- goals by which they can measure their own progress. However, be ready to adjust them if you find they don't fit.I find that having good friends of all ages is a valuable way of keeping fit mentally. While a sympathetic ear to help you solve your own problems can make you feel better, I always remember to be a good listener. Changing careers can be rewarding if you are tired of what you are doing. If something else appeals to you more and it fits your long term goals go for it and make the change. You don't have to wait until you retire at a predetermined age from a job where you are not happy. Under those circumstances retirement becomes more of a rescue operation than an exciting opportunity to do the things you used to dream about. Working as a volunteer can be a wonderful way to broaden your perspective while helping others. Some of the most fascinating travels in many parts of the world can come about in connection with volunteer assignments. Keep your mind active with a variety of interests. If you are unable to go there, read about it. If someone writes you an interesting letter, return the favour. Hobbies started early in life will become a real asset when you begin to slow down and think about a way to live after retirement. Bewarned - be prepared to become busier than ever. At least you can be your own boss. That in itself can be a stress reliever. Spirituality is a significant part of a person's being. Because it is intangible it is often ignored and yet its neglect can lead to stress,unhappiness and ill health. Spirituality can be the relationship between one's self and God, the non-physical relationships among family and friends or the selfless offering to others of one's understanding, tolerance, advice and encouragement. These can reduce your own stress as well as that of others. A build up of stress may be caused by our trying to understand the impossible. For example, God is a mystery incapable of being understood bythe finite mind. We tend to get upset because we have to tack a label,either masculine or feminine, onto the mystery because we cannot think of another way to refer to it when we want to seek, discuss, affirm or deny it.e and the rest of the world with us could be a lot happier and live longer if everyone, polititians included, would conduct themselves according the simple rules of the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule: do unto others asyou would have them do unto you. With so many factions causing chaos bythrowing those rules out of the window, I sometimes wonder if wanting to live longer is a good idea. But don't give up yet. Let's give those rules a try - and we can have fun doing it. |
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