I'm not a big fan of Parade Magazine, one of the color supplements that come with the Sunday Washington Post (and probably other newspapers as well). Its meager pages usually celebrity gossip, recipes that don't appeal to me, and lots of advertisements aimed at the AARP crowd (of which I, admittedly, am one).
But yesterday's Parade had an article that I read all the way through, and liked enough to share it. It's called Cheater's Guide to Living to 100, and it lists four "secrets" to living longer, healthier and happier. Before I tell more, I want to say upfront that I have no particular desire to live to 100, the four suggestions aren't secrets, and following the suggestions have nothing to do with cheating -- they just make good sense. But the title of the article was, no doubt, designed to attract readers, and it worked.
The first secret is Find Your Tribe. "The people who live longest surround themselves with people who support healthy behaviors." The article mentions friends, faith-based communities, families and life partners. I would add fellow members of 12-Step programs, because we support all kinds of healthy behaviors -- physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Each of us entered the program because we were practicing some kind of seriously-unhealthy behavior, and wanted to change. That's exactly what I wanted. What I didn't know at the time was that I would end up changing several behaviors that didn't seem connected to the reason I came in. For example, I wanted to stop drinking. Because of what I heard from other people in the rooms, I took up yoga and meditation. These two practices reduced my anxiety, improved my physical and mental health, and support my continuing sobriety.
The third secret is Seek a Purpose. People who live longer "have an activity, passion or career that motivates them and gives their lives meaning." Amen to that! If we don't have a reason to get up in the morning, and if there isn't something we can look forward to or hope for, then where's the joy in life? It doesn't have to be a "change the world" type of activity, as long as it's something that we enjoy and that gives us a reason for getting out of bed each day. When I first came into the rooms, my primary reason for hauling my butt out of bed was to attend my 7:00 am Early Birds meeting. No matter how bad I felt -- and some days it was pretty bad -- I always felt uplifted by the end of the meeting. Today, a year later, that's still true. And whether or not we have some other activity that motivates us (which I do), the program gives us the opportunity to help others, to "be of service." That alone seems to be enough for some people, and they do it with great pleasure and satisfaction.
The second and fourth secrets are Eat Smart and Move It. The importance of a healthy diet and some kind of regular physical activity are well known, whether or not we actually practice them. During the months before I entered the program, I drank more calories than I ate, and stopped going to the gym. Now I try to eat smart, although ice cream still calls to me, and I practice yoga. When I get my recent pain issue (from spinal stenosis) under control, I want to resume bicycle riding and walking. I know that it will help me feel better in so many ways. And it's something I can do with my husband -- that produces a whole bunch of other emotional benefits!
But yesterday's Parade had an article that I read all the way through, and liked enough to share it. It's called Cheater's Guide to Living to 100, and it lists four "secrets" to living longer, healthier and happier. Before I tell more, I want to say upfront that I have no particular desire to live to 100, the four suggestions aren't secrets, and following the suggestions have nothing to do with cheating -- they just make good sense. But the title of the article was, no doubt, designed to attract readers, and it worked.
The first secret is Find Your Tribe. "The people who live longest surround themselves with people who support healthy behaviors." The article mentions friends, faith-based communities, families and life partners. I would add fellow members of 12-Step programs, because we support all kinds of healthy behaviors -- physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Each of us entered the program because we were practicing some kind of seriously-unhealthy behavior, and wanted to change. That's exactly what I wanted. What I didn't know at the time was that I would end up changing several behaviors that didn't seem connected to the reason I came in. For example, I wanted to stop drinking. Because of what I heard from other people in the rooms, I took up yoga and meditation. These two practices reduced my anxiety, improved my physical and mental health, and support my continuing sobriety.
The third secret is Seek a Purpose. People who live longer "have an activity, passion or career that motivates them and gives their lives meaning." Amen to that! If we don't have a reason to get up in the morning, and if there isn't something we can look forward to or hope for, then where's the joy in life? It doesn't have to be a "change the world" type of activity, as long as it's something that we enjoy and that gives us a reason for getting out of bed each day. When I first came into the rooms, my primary reason for hauling my butt out of bed was to attend my 7:00 am Early Birds meeting. No matter how bad I felt -- and some days it was pretty bad -- I always felt uplifted by the end of the meeting. Today, a year later, that's still true. And whether or not we have some other activity that motivates us (which I do), the program gives us the opportunity to help others, to "be of service." That alone seems to be enough for some people, and they do it with great pleasure and satisfaction.
The second and fourth secrets are Eat Smart and Move It. The importance of a healthy diet and some kind of regular physical activity are well known, whether or not we actually practice them. During the months before I entered the program, I drank more calories than I ate, and stopped going to the gym. Now I try to eat smart, although ice cream still calls to me, and I practice yoga. When I get my recent pain issue (from spinal stenosis) under control, I want to resume bicycle riding and walking. I know that it will help me feel better in so many ways. And it's something I can do with my husband -- that produces a whole bunch of other emotional benefits!
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Good for you, June! You will be an inspiration for many!!!
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