Helen Thomas and Other Agonies of Aging
by Barbara Morris, R. Ph.
In response to recent inappropriate remarks made by 89 year-old long time White House correspondent Helen Thomas, a Wall St. Journal article, "A Nation of Helen Thomases" opened with this:
"Say what you will about Helen Thomas, but she's the future of America. No, not for her militant anti-Zionism. For working well into the third age of life - and long after some of her colleagues wished she'd moved to Florida."
Helen Thomas has believed what she believes for a very long time, so let's not blame what comes out of her mouth on her age. To do so perpetuates the nonsense that a long life gives you a free pass to say whatever you want to say because, after all, you are probably senile.
But the article was about more than Helen's political views. It also painted a grim picture for those who are about to retire, and it sustained the fallacy that if you have to work beyond age 65, it's akin to God's punishment. The article ends with this statement:
"You may not want to hang around an office into your 70s or even your 80s, but you may have no choice. Just don't be surprised if it makes you cranky."
In my experience, I have met many more traditional bored-to-death, semi-brain dead cranky retirees than retirees who use their retirement years to stay healthy, productive, and of value to themselves and others.
If you want to avoid the "cranky condition", you have to plan for your post retirement years while you have the capacity to do so. In addition to a financial plan, by age 40 you need to be in a consistent exercise regimen and your diet has to be the best it can possibly be, not just occasionally, but as an ongoing lifestyle choice. If you think you don't have to think ahead, think again. After you retire and close the door on the past, it's generally too late to try to change the path you are on, or undo damage resulting from inappropriate choices. At that point, you can be really cranky, and a real pain in the neck to others who don't deserve it.
It can (and is) argued that such advice is too simplistic because it doesn't take into consideration unexpected events over which you have no control, as well as the unavoidable effects of genetic mayhem. Life is uncertain. It's true that bad things happen to good people who try to do all the right things. While that's true, life's curve balls are often used as an excuse not to think and plan ahead.
In "Poor Health? Easier for Some to Blame Bad Genes Than Change Lifestyle" the author claims those with the greatest need to change their behaviors are more likely to favor genetic explanations for their diseases and the more behavioral risk factors they have, the less likely they are to be interested in behavior change information.
Dr. John W. Rowe, in his book Successful Aging claims that 70 percent of how well we age is the result of lifestyle choices; only 30 percent is the result of genetic heritage. When you consider the damaging lifestyle of many people, it's abundantly clear that they are throwing away a healthy future as a result of inappropriate lifestyle choices: Too much crappy food, alcohol, tobacco, inactivity, and drugs, as well as negative influences of friends, family and the culture.
Just remember the quality of your retirement years is largely a reflection of how you have lived in the years leading up to retirement and how effectively you planned while you still had your wits about you and made smart future oriented choices.
Oh, and one more thing: Yes, you will be at an age when you think you can say whatever you want to say that may offend others, but be prepared to hold your tongue because you won't be taken seriously -- you will just be considered seriously senile.What do you think? Vote in the poll below then click to view results.
Source: July, 2010 Put Old on Hold NewsletterBarbara Morris — Image F/X Publications
Barbara@PutOldOnHold.com
© 2010 – Image F/X Publications, All rights reserved. If you "borrow" my articles, or other articles in this newsletter please do not re-write them as your own. Give proper attribution. Thanks!
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