Longevity is in Your Genes Independence is in Your Hands
I just read this funny New York Times article about longevity in which the reporter met a 100-year-old woman who was smoking. She said all the doctors she ever knew encouraged her to quit, and they were all dead. If I live to 100 or even 90, I intend to engage in any activity I want. I was lucky to have never been addicted to smoking, but I like a cigarette with a drink. I’ve been sober so far for nearly 34 years, but I intend to drink then, too. This photo is of Jeanne Calment on her 117th birthday (another centenarian smoker). People who smoke past 100 have good genes.
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Longevity is 1 part genetics and 1 part lifestyle. Genetics is a lottery you either won or lost at birth. Lifestyle is up to you. You can get clues from how long and how well your parents and grandparents lived. My grandfather made it to 90. He was famous for saying, “Everything in moderation.” And that was likely what helped him to live that long. He started smoking at 21 (in 1926) because he thought that was what a man did. At 65, he was diagnosed with hardening of the arteries. A fancy Boston doctor told him he would only operate if he stopped smoking. Papa stopped on a dime and never smoked again. He was active, social, and the life of many a party till his late 80s. My mission is to be just like him!
I have an 84-year-old client who intends to live to 125. I have a 72-year-old friend who is not interested in aging much further.
Longevity is not everyone’s goal.
Independence should be everyone’s goal.
Write me and make an argument if you think that isn’t true.
My business is your independence. Neither of us can control how long you will live, but I can help you to maintain your independence to the end of your life.
What is Independence
I consider independence as we age to be the ability to sit and stand by ourselves. This would include getting in and out of bed, the shower, and the car. Getting in and out of a bathtub may go by the wayside. Dressing and feeding oneself. Maintaining the ability to go outside alone. Losing the ability to drive can be a blow to independence, but this loss doesn’t have to dominate if you can walk outside and receive rides from friends and family. Being able to do what you love and what interests you.
Recipe for Independence
Stay physically active. Enjoy cardio activities to cultivate your cardiovascular system. Engage in strength training to maintain your muscles and bones.
Stay socially active. Enjoy life. Maintain hobbies. Make new friends and keep the old. Try new things. Sightsee both at home and while traveling. Volunteer.
Eat well, ingest plenty of protein, and enjoy a rainbow of colors in your fruits and vegetables. Limit alcohol, sugars, and processed foods.
Visit the doctor at least annually. If you are struggling with an illness, do what you need to do.
Keep learning. Stimulate your mind. Play games. Learn a language. Do math problems. Learn new skills.
Manage your money wisely.
Make sure your home is safe. Clear away tripping hazards. Install grab bars. When stairs become too challenging, move to a single-floor living space. Decide whether you can age in place or need to relocate.
Make use of technology from medical alerts to automation tools.
Get familiar with community resources such as transportation services and senior centers.
Accept help when you need help.
You will need different aspects of this recipe at varying stages of aging. At 67, I am focused on 1 through 6. At nearly 90 and living with me, my mother relies on all 10.
How you age is up to you. You may want to live forever, or you may be content to die sooner. Maintaining your independence for as long as possible allows you to make choices and do what you want.
The seeds of the future are sown when we are younger. My clients who under-exercise lose independence, while those who invest the time and energy to stay in shape remain in shape. Choose wisely.