I'm on a cruise from Rome to Dubai. There are many older couples on board, but one situation jumped out at me; a pair of sisters in their early 80s, each owns a home. They live in Arizona in the winter and Missouri in the summer. No idea what their long term plan is, but right now, they are accepting their physical limitations (one got a wheelchair for a long trek in Egypt).
Share your stories of folks who are aging successfully.
Some folks here might benefit from being able to share these ideas with older parents.
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Yes, those one room school houses only taught the basics but they definitely learned to be self reliant. I think about the Amish too. They only learn what is needed academically but they learn life skills to be extremely resourceful.
The Amish lifestyle is so interesting to me. I know a person who left their Amish community. He lived in New Orleans for awhile but moved to Houston, TX.
His family shunned him. That’s common because he chose to leave. He isn’t sorry that he left. He’s actually a very successful man. He lives a vastly different life than the simple life that he grew up in.
We see our friend about once a year when he visits New Orleans and we have gone to his home in Texas occasionally.
I don’t bring up his past. He will speak about it once in awhile but I see the sadness in his eyes when he remembers that lifestyle. He rebelled as a teenager.
He wanted more than his simplistic Amish life. It wasn’t for him. He loves going to hear jazz when he visits. He adores New Orleans food and we always have a good time with him.
You would never know that he was Amish. He was determined to get a good education. He worked hard and did so. Like I said, he’s very successful. He didn’t do it to become rich. Amish life in Pennsylvania Dutch country didn’t suit him.
I think so too. They had chores. Also, television was not around then! No one was watching tv programs.
Don’t you wish everyone could age as well as your friend? Wow! She is impressive.
My husband’s great grandmother died just shy of 102. Her 100th birthday party was so much fun. She was dancing at her party! We hired a band to play. She had 12 children (farm family) plus a couple of miscarriages. She outlived her husband, all but one sibling and a few of her kids.
She named her children after her favorite characters in books she read. With 12 kids how did she have time to read? Hahaha
Look what happens when people don’t do that. People become overweight or obese.
I know weight can be a difficult issue for some people for various reasons. I understand that but Heather is right stating that it is beneficial to be active. I feel good physically and emotionally when I take walks or ride my exercise bike to my favorite music.
Good habits should start at a young age. I was never allowed to sit in front of the television for hours and hours at the time everyday as a kid. I would have been bored doing that.
People who are idle for too long become bored and rather than living a productive life they usually interfere in other’s lives.
Sadly, this causes them to be alienated by others because most people find those who interfere as very annoying.
We should never lose our own identities. It is nice to share our lives but remain individuals with various interests.
Just because someone retires from working it does not mean quitting everything. Even those with bad eyesight can listen to audio books to stimulate their minds.
I love listening to music. Music truly is a universal language and is therapeutic. There is so much other than television. Television is fine. There are quality programs to watch but we don’t have to watch a million hours of tv.
There are lots of places to volunteer in the community as well.
I notice that people who retire too early, and do nothing but sit in front of their television daily, and develop unhealthy eating habits, tend to become more seriously ill at a younger age.
In my professions, I know many elderly people some in their 90s who are still living on their own, active and sharp as any 30 year old. Some still run businesses in their 90s.
Many had parents that died young of various disorders and that was their wake up call to live a healthier lifestyle. It may also rule out genetics as a reason for them living to be old and healthy, when their parents did not.
The common denominators, IMO, is that they all have a healthy diet, either vegetarian or eat meat sparingly, drink alcohol moderately, do not do recreational drugs, they walk or garden or play tennis or engage in some type of exercise or sport regularly.
Another important issue, IMO, is that all these people find something to do that takes them outside of themselves.
That is to say that they either still work or they do something for other people rather than expecting other family to wait on them hand and foot.
When elderly people still take care of their own day to day lives, as well as the lives of others, it stimulates their brain and that helps them stay sharp and active.
There are numerous books that discuss this: "Super Agers", "Empowered aging", "Lifespan", etc.
My dad is 86 and since mom has died has learned how to cook, clean, grocery shop and wash clothes and is actually pretty good at it. He drives, takes care of a large yard, shoots pistol competitively with a group of retirees three times a week, and reads the newspaper every day. And has a beer every evening- but just one. As he puts it, "Every day above ground is a good day."
He used to be a dentist and retired at 83 still very sharp and in excellent shape.
She has always been an artist.
if I get to be like them at that age, I’ll sure enjoy every moment of my life!
When they got to the gate the mom gave the gate agents holy heck.
"You ought to be ashamed making a 101 year-old woman walk that far. "
The mom is still living and comes to church every Sunday.
He is clueless as to how high much it takes to maintain him. I am exhausted. I have become his "wife-y". It isn't enough that I work and come home and spend 2 hours making a nice dinner...it's "do you think sometime you might be able to make something in the wok like mom used to?" I reheated my plate of food the other night no less than 4 times because of both them doing or needing something.
Yes he is amazing...and also lucky.
Does she get ill? Yes, had a recent stay in the hospital but couldn’t wait to get back on her feet again. Neighbors helped by walking with her one block at a time until she got stronger.
Living until the LORD calls her home!
please...keep us informed. I worry that you may be caught up in a situation.
I think staying active is the best thing for seniors, physically and mentally. For those who are healthy I say to enjoy your life. Don’t stop living because you are old.
My great aunts walked everywhere. They volunteered until their 90’s! They baked fruit cakes for everyone in the family at the holidays.
Not sure if they liked the baking or the sampling of the rum that they put in the cakes the best! But they liked to bake.
behind me, ocean
Uninterrupted
(A haiku by Calvin Olsen)
Happy sailing Barb!
So at almost age 73, I think that I am doing ok! I will go as long as I can pick up my suitcase. As for the motorhome travels, I believe that I have many fun adventures ahead of me! Move over, here I come!
Barb, have fun on your cruise!
His story was he took up fitness coaching after retirement from his career. Just wanted to stay active. He taught many types of classes per week but now just doing the water classes. Demonstrates all the moves outside the pool: kicks, punches, jogging, balancing on one leg, star jumps & more.
He is now 93.
https://www.deseret.com/utah/2019/10/24/20910602/gene-england-still-trucking-at-100-years-old
And Barb, your cruise sounds just wonderful! Enjoy!