Everyone has an opportunity to be youthful and vibrant - at any age. As 77 million Boomers stampede through the lifeline, there's growing interest in the subject of aging. Just note the popularity of people like Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Deepak Chopra, and Dr. Candace Pert, who are unlocking the secrets of a long, healthy life. From the fields of art and music come Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand and Bruce Willis, to name a few. Lesser known personalities are making extraordinary contributions in diverse fields such as Dr. Wise Young (Head of The Neuroscience Center at Rutgers University), who discovered a way to significantly increase mobility and independence for people with spinal cord injuries; Tim White, who, driven by his childhood interest in fossils, has traced human evolution back two million years, when humans diverted their evolutionary path away from chimpanzees; and Colleen Rowley, an FBI attorney, who identified and exposed problems within the Agency. She analyzed the case of Zacarias Moussaoui and was honored for her work by Time magazine in 2002. By now we all know that much of what we think of as aging is actually a byproduct of physical and mental inactivity, poor nutrition, and negative attitudes. By reversing these bad habits, anyone can improve her or his physical stamina, mental capacity and level of well-being - regardless of age or condition. Lifestyle changes for the healthier can start quite small. Moving about the house more energetically,
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launching an exercise program to raise the heartbeat, increasing stretch and strength, taking in sunshine and fresh air daily, doing a crossword puzzle, and counting blessings are inexpensive and convenient beginnings to a state of well-being. Exercise naturally induces anti-aging mechanisms, builds muscles and burns fat, optimizes the function of heart and lungs, eliminates toxins, strengthens bones, and releases endorphins, which promotes feelings of contentment. The mind, too, is affected by the “use it or lose it” principle. Adults who read, learn, and interact with others are less likely to lose their memory or decline into senility. Emotions and attitudes influence physical health, which is enhanced by giving, sharing and caring. As long as you're on line, why not check out some of these valuable links: Earth's Elders Foundation - www.earthselders.org Human Values and Aging Newsletter by Harry Moody with AARP www.hrmoody.com/newsletters Berkeley Wellness Newsletter www.berkeleywellness.com Positive Aging Newsletter www.healthandage.com Now let's focus on you! What are you thinking of accomplishing now? Whom might you reach out to for inspiration or help? Perhaps it's time for some exercise! Remember: tiny adjustments make huge differences. As you make changes to improve your well being, let us know how its going and what you've learned. Write to us at joyce@u-wisdom.com Joyce Cohen is a leading figure in the field of career development and life planning. She consults with organizations of all sizes and leads seminars on career management, mentoring, learning organizations, creative aging, retirement planning, growth and renewal, and other topics related to successful life planning. Joyce can be reached at joyce@u-wisdom.com and will answer questions as space permits. The opinions expressed are the author's and not necessarily those of ConnPost.com. Comments for Post: Carol Dauber cdauber@ctpost.com