The middle-age and older population of the United States is growing (and growing older) very rapidly! In the coming years they will represent nearly half of the population.
We must pay attention! "If I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself.
" Eubie Blake (age 100) LIVE LONG - LIVE HEALTHY! Who doesn't want to live a good life? We all want to feel viable and purposeful as we age.
We want to stay physically active, healthy and fiscally comfortable.
Health and vitality are more than the absence of sickness; they are the products of being proactively involved in our own well-being by regularly working on ourselves psychologically, spiritually, and physically.
This is what makes the difference between those who are the epitome of health, and those who are lethargic and consumed with chronic conditions as they age.
How old you feel can be more important than your chronological age.
"The idea is to die young as late as possible.
" Ashley Montagu BEING PROACTIVE & ACTIVE! You can't afford to be lazy or complacent.
The sooner you take responsibility for yourself, the less likely you are to become a burden to others and society.
Be accountable for your place in life by taking care of yourself, by being the best you can possibly be.
When you're happy you naturally attract people and opportunities that reflect that happiness.
Unconditional love and acceptance of your self is directly related to personal happiness.
Be what you want in your life.
"Aging is not 'lost youth' but a new stage of opportunity and strength.
" Betty Friedan BEGIN TO CULTIVATE SELF-NURTURING PRACTICES Healing is a time-consuming process.
Often you have to undo old, destructive, habits in order to allow your physical, spiritual, and emotional body to get stronger.
Introspection and reflection can help you to be honest with your self, and clear negativity that is cluttering your mind and thoughts.
Negativity is influenced by many things including: exposure to the media, being in unhealthy relationships, or ruminating about fears or worries.
Learn to create sacred silence.
Begin and sustain a daily meditation practice, with deep breathing and quieting the mind.
Five to twenty minutes in the morning can radically transform your world.
When you have fear-based negative thoughts, you are blocked from feeling love and connections.
Meditation helps to be more conscious, once conscious, you can choose how you want to be in your world.
Journaling is another reflective practice, and an excellent tool for noticing what is arising in the moment.
If you choose to pass on your journal, it can provide a legacy of your inner world to future generations.
Journaling organizes thoughts, sets intentions, and gets clarity in order to verbalize needs and wants.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old.
We grow old because we stop playing.
" George Bernard Shaw You're never to old to challenge your brain.
Get out of your comfort zone by engaging in activities that challenge your mind with new and different things.
Become more active on the computer, do puzzles, play Scrabble, bridge, read, write, do art, stretch your thinking and creative muscles.
Work on whole brain activities like playing a musical instrument, or learning to juggle.
As we expand our brain, our reason and problem solving skills improve.
TURN OFF THE TV! Keep your brain cells active! "The idea is to die young as late as possible.
" Ashley Montagu ACCEPTANCE IS GOLDEN IN THE GOLDEN YEARS! Growing old is a natural process in which things are slowing down.
At some point, surrender the fight against wrinkles, and see the sparkle in your heart and the twinkle in your eyes that make you beautiful beyond youth.
When you embrace your age without shame or fear, you live a richer, more authentic and balanced life.
Change your negative perspectives, and you begin to turn back the clock.
As time goes on, when you stop focusing on the "symptoms" of aging, and focus instead on the miracle of being alive, you will become happier, wiser, more resilient, and increase your relationships to like-minded others.
Practicing kindness, patience and forgiveness to your self as well as to others, is the foundation of wisdom and living a sage life.
We all can be the mentors and teachers of generations to come, but first we have to live the life! "Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.
" Eleanor Roosevelt SOMETIMES CHANGE MAKES SENSE! Remember to be open to change.
As you get older, you may become change averse.
Being open to adjustments of personality, habits and routine may add a spark to life.
Non of us are too old to grow! Keep a curious mind.
Stay interesting and interested in life.
Be connected to the world.
Don't give in to feeling immobile and isolated.
Accept what is true for you in your life.
Having friends and a social schedule gets the focus off yourself and will engage you in the world.
Figure out how to make a difference, then do it! Stay purposeful, start a support group, volunteer, mentor a young person.
Go to a group or a class.
Make a difference in an others life.
"I intend to live forever - or die trying.
" Groucho Marx FOLLOW THESE TIPS TO AGE WITH GRACE: * Start walking or interval run/walk a minimum of 30 minutes, five days a week.
* Check your attitude.
Stop complaining about feeling old.
Be grateful and loving in all that you do.
* Meditate.
Every day for 15-20 minutes engage in quieting the mind and deep breathing.
* Journaling helps organize your thinking, releases negative emotions, and can be a legacy for your family.
* Get out of the box.
Do something different that forces you to problem solve.
* Embrace your wrinkles - you've earned them! Find beauty in your years.
* Get yourself off your hands and help others.
* Find healthy distractions.
Aging gracefully is different for everyone.
We each may have our own idea of what it means to age with dignity.
Get clear about what aging with grace means to you, and what you need to do to achieve it.
Invest in your future.
Do something good for yourself and your loved ones by taking care of yourself - you will feel healthier, stronger, have more energy and endurance, and be happier with your life.
"Eventually you reach a point when we you stop lying about your age and you start bragging about it.
" Will Rogers For more information and tools and techniques to aging with grace refer to The Healthy Lifestyle Path of Wellness @ http://bit.
ly/j0i1iq.