Integrated Health > Lifestyle > Aging Gracefully

Aging Gracefully

"You're only as old as you feel"

“Accepting aging can be a significant part of aging well, and of recognizing and appreciating the great rewards of growing older: depth and richness of experience, complexity of being, serenity, wisdom, and its own kind of power and grace”
                                                                             Dr. Andrew Weil

• Accept aging as a fact of life and embrace it. Always think about those who will never have the opportunity to age.

• Relish the fact that you're aging and don't try to hide it.

• Aging lends an air of respect, dignity, and wisdom. Feel good about it. Your aging will be seen as a good thing in the eyes of others. Make sure you view your aging in the same way.

• Aging is a normal stage in everyone's life.

• Aging comes with all of the regular health issues: back problems, degenerative joint disease, arthritis, etc.
  
  
• We can’t stop our bodies from aging; however, we can do things to help us prevent disease and maintain our bodies and our health.

Eat healthy meals (“You are what you eat”).

Exercise regularly throughout life (humans are meant to move).

Pay attention to structure (your bones) as structure affects function.

Use preventive medicine wisely – treat problems early.

Don't smoke or indulge in substances (These are the two leading causes of serious health problems which will make you feel and look old.)

Make sure you get adequate rest and sleep.

Exercise your mind as well as your body.

Stay connected to family and friends.

Embrace your age!
When asked how old you are, simply smile and tell the truth! You will be pleasantly surprised at how many compliments you will receive about how young you look!