At Forty and Fifty Plan to Avoid “Plain Torture"
By Barbara Morris, R. Ph.
An article in the Miami Herald (November, 23, 2009) (1) told about
92-year old Ann Monroe who still drives and works out every week. She describes
herself as an “ordinary” 92-year old.
The reality is that she is not “ordinary”. Most people at 92 are no longer driving and as for “working out” – that stopped about 40 years earlier. However, it’s also a reality that many, many more 92-year olds could be just as active and competent. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
The comment below appeared in response to the Herald article. I assume it’s from an elderly woman:
“For every Ann Monroe, there are thousands of elderly, who can't even get out of bed. There are a lot of factors involved. Genes, did you work out during your younger years? Did you experiment with drugs? Were you happily married? Do you have any communication with your children? Or are they distant? Do you have any friends? All these articles about how we will live to be 150 years old, is nothing else but an advertisement for the Pharmaceutical Companies. Old age is NOT pleasant. Your body begins to give up. Your friends are dead or dying and the world is a very unfriendly place. Today, nobody talks to anybody. The government, for ten long years, has been scaring the heck out of us with terrorists, crime and it has, successfully, succeeded. We no longer talk to each other, not even our neighbors. It is a very uncaring and unloving world and to live over 65 years old in it, it is plain torture.”
Isn’t that sad? But it reflects the (unnecessary) condition of many older individuals.
The writer says genes are a cause of old age angst. But how much of a culprit are genes, anyway? John W. Rowe, M.D., co-author of Successful Aging” writes:
“The bottom line is very clear: with rare exceptions only about 30 percent of physical aging can be blamed on the genes... only about half of the changes in mental function with aging are genetic. This leaves substantial room for a healthy lifestyle to protect the mind and body. And better yet, as we grow older, genetics becomes less important, and environment becomes more important. The likelihood of being fat, having hypertension, high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and the rate at which one’s lung function declines with advancing age are, by and large, largely not inherited. The risks are due to environmental factors.”
So, while genes play a significant role in how we age, lifestyle plays a much larger role.
It’s easy to go through life and not take responsibility for how we abuse and neglect ourselves. As we get old we can always pin blame on genes, ungrateful kids, the government, the pharmaceutical companies and uncaring neighbors. And then we feel justified in saying that life over age 65 is “plain torture.”
Life that is “plain torture” happens to good people who do all the right things. Cancer, Alzheimer’s and other devastating diseases for which there are no known causes can strike the healthiest.
But more often than not, life that is “plain torture” in old age is of our own doing, or not doing.
Age 40 (50 at the latest) is pretty much the last chance to have a good shot at reaching old age in good shape. At your present stage of life your mind and body are still responsive to tender loving care. If in your youth you “did drugs” and now do legal prescription drugs, you know what you should do, even if it means going into rehab.
If you are not exercising, you must start now and continue with a consistent regimen for the rest of your life. Like Ann Monroe, you have to work out regularly. Considering the longer lifespan you may well get to 92 and unless you are in good shape, you may be lamenting that old age is “plain torture.”
In old age it’s nice to having a loving family, and if you are willing to step outside of yourself and make the first move -- you can find friends. Just remember that we come into this world alone and we die alone, even though we may be surrounded by the living. With or without friends, learn how to be content with your own company.
For most, old age doesn’t have to be “plain torture.” You just have to plan for a life in older years that has value and purpose. It can be a joyful time of life, believe it or not. It’s what you do now to plan for the future that makes the difference between “torture” and happiness.
(1) http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/north-central/story/1313212.html
Source: December, 2009 Put Old on Hold Newsletter
Barbara Morris — Image F/X Publications
Barbara@PutOldOnHold.com
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