Stop Aging in Your Mind
And Your Body Will Follow

MYTHS ABOUT AGING

Feel as if you’re getting old? Step into the 21st century of aging. Here’s a photo of my grandmother when she was about 60 years old. She was quite overweight, her hair was completely gray and she had a couple of energy draining medical conditions. Her daily routine was bathing, eating and sitting. Grandma was like most people in those days – old at 50.

Many older people spend their days going from one doctor appointment to the next.

The answer is a resounding ‘yes’! What’s the difference between grandma and the ladies that are snorkeling? Their lifestyle and belief systems. Move into the 21st century and change your mind about aging. There are still people who carry the same beliefs my grandmother did. Here are a few of those beliefs or better called myths.

Myth #1: To be old is to be sick

Not true. It’s not your chronological age that makes you sick. It’s the standard beliefs you’ve bought into. And why not? You’re inundated by dozens of drug commercials everyday on TV. They try to convince you that as you get older you’ll probably have osteoporosis, arthritis, high blood pressure and heart disease. And then your doctor, instead of telling you to lose some weight and maybe start walking once a day, gives you prescription drugs.

Take a look at this 83 year old and notice how sick she looks. Betsy takes no medication, just Muscadine Grape supplements with high resveratrol content. She walks every morning, takes swim lessons and plays golf almost everyday. Unless it's brutally hot, she refuses to take a cart. That’s what I call a healthy lifestyle. And, oh yes, she also rides around on her bike.

Myth #2: You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Gustava Bennett Buruus walked across the stage to accept her diploma at Richmond High School's graduation ceremony. She became the oldest graduate of the San Francisco Bay area public school, which was founded two years after her birth. Gustava is 97 years old.

C. Laird Snelgrove graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Brigham Young University in 2002. He was 91 years old.

Nola Ochs, age 96, graduated from Fort Hays State University in Kansas. More surprising, she lived in the college dorms while pursuing her studies.

These graduates are not rocket scientists. They just don’t buy into the myth that they are ‘old dogs’ who can’t learn new tricks.

Myth #3: It’s just a normal part of aging.

You’ve heard the rumors. Your knees go first, then your memory. As George Gershwin wrote, “It ain’t necessarily so.” If you keep active, your body will respond by staying energetic, flexible and strong.

Walt Stack was a San Francisco folk hero in the 90s. Everyday Walt ran across the Golden Gate Bridge. When he was 85 he was still running marathons.

Cao Zuozheng started training in 2004 to be the Olympic torch bearer in Bejing, 2008. She’s 103 years old.

The age of the Iron Man (triathalon in Hawaii) has increased almost every year. On average, these triathletes are in their 40s. And the age group of the fastest marathoners is 40-45.

Waldo McBurney of Kansas, ran in the Master’s Olympics in Puerto Rico in 2003. At the time Waldo was 103. Could it be just a coincidence that Waldo is also the oldest worker in the world?

What we used to consider ‘just a normal part of aging’ has gone by the wayside. With exercise, proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, age is just chronological.

If you don't have the motivation to exercise on your own, think of moving into an active senior community. Retirement communities are not what they used to be called, 'waiting rooms until you die.' Sun City type areas have grown up throughout the country because we seniors are so much more active now. They have exercise rooms, classes of every kind, pools, tennis courts, spas, and most importantly, people who want to remain active and vibrant.

Myth #4:The secret to successful aging is to have good genes.

Ever since Sir Francis Crick discovered DNA we’ve been told that we are destined to follow in our parent’s footsteps. Dr. Bruce Lipton, a molecular biologist, says, “Not so.” New research shows our cells are not governed by what’s inside of them, but what’s outside of them. In other words, it’s our environment that creates our future.

Dr. Candace Pert, in the groundbreaking movie, “What the Bleep” talks about neuro pathways. “These pathways are built through our daily habits” (not our DNA) and control how we feel. We have the choice of building new pathways through our thinking and action.

Famed actress Ellen Burstyn agrees, saying that we carve out ‘tracks’ as we grow up. Some of the tracks may be negative. Through our beliefs and habits we can carve out more positive tracks.

You don’t have to believe that if your father died of a heart attack you will have heart disease. Or if your grandmother had diabetes, you’ll have it as well. Treat your body well, stick to a healthy lifestyle, keep an optimistic attitude and you will live longer and stronger than your parents and grandparents.

Myth #5:The lights may be on, but the voltage is low. For years research has told us that as we get older, our brain cells die off. Recently someone revealed that all the studies on loss of brain function were done in nursing homes, where people just sit around.

New studies tell us that as long as we keep our brains busy, they will keep on functioning. Commit to learning something new today:

. Do a crossword puzzle.
. Figure out how to program your cell phone.
. Get a TiVo and record TV shows for viewing later.
. Play scrabble or other board games.
. Take a class in something you’ve always wanted to learn.

Be like Dr. Deepak Chopra who said, “I lost track of my chronological age.” Celebrate your birthday every year but don’t get sucked into believing that being a senior citizen is not for wimps. With a little effort, a little tweaking in your lifestyle, you can age gracefully and live a life full of joy, health and energy.

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