Gift of Time Give it to Yourself!

We all want to live a long and healthy life but are we willing to do what it takes for most of us. If you are basically healthy then there are simple steps that you can take to make your life healthier and more rewarding.

I go to visit my Mother and watch as she struggles to remember much of her life. Now her memory has slipped away after many surgeries. She was so alive and a marvelous person in her own right; talented both in music and painting. But she had suffered heart problems from the time she was young. The results has been that many of her memories are gone - just gone. There was nothing that could be done for this woman but there is plenty that we can do to give ourselves and our children the gift of more quality of time.

So I urge each one of you to life as if this were the last day of your life. Remember what and who is important to you. Tell the ones you love, that you love them before you, or they, forget who you are.

The one thing that we can do is exercise - simple, uncomplicated, gentle and consistent exercise. Studies suggest that walking for 30 minutes at least 3 times a week, increases your chance of living a longer, healthier life. So why would you NOT walk?

(Author's note: My Mother passed away at the beginning of 2013. She did not know any of her family but she remembered her husband who had passed many years before she died. In a strange way, it was with joy that she left this world, knowing that she would find her beloved husband. Although I miss my Mother, she had been gone for many years before she died, but that did not prevent me from loving her.)

Not all of us wanted to complete athletically when we are young, let alone when we are over a certain age. But isn't it marvelous to watch people of age, such as are pictured above, competing with each other. Could they beat the younger men in a foot race? Probably not, but they are competitive with each other and loving it.

"The toughest athlete in the world is a 62 year-old woman." - D.L. Stewart. Dayton Daily News

Diana Nyad is a world class long distance swimmer at 62. Last summer (2011) she nearly made it from Cuba to Florida, without a cage. Unfortunately, jellyfish stings forced the medical decision to pull Diana from the water after more than 100 hours of swimming. If you do not know the story there is a link farther this article to her site.

(Since this was written, Diana Nyad has completed that marvelous journey. She did swim from Cuba to Florida. Diana arrived in Key West, FL, September 2, 2013 at 1:53 pm, after swimming 52 Hours 54 Minutes 18.6 Seconds and 110.4 statue miles.)

Riding bikes can be a load of fun, especially riding together. It is important to be working and playing with people. Being alone is great if it is your choice; however, too much of a good thing can be deadly. Remember, depression is one of our silent killers.

Sunshine on your face for at least 15 minutes a day, gives you the amount of Vitamin D that unlocks your body's healthy responses, that includes the ability to fight depression.One of the newsletters that I read is from the Vitamin D council which sends out a great deal of useful and interesting information. They talk about the fact that Vitamin D actually helps the body repair even DNA damage. So make you get enough of the great stuff. By using the sun as your supply, you fill up with Vitamin D for free!

If you do not know about the wonders of Vitamin D, look for an upcoming Lens on it.

One of the things that happens to older people is that their lives become isolated from other people. Exercising can be a lonely expedience unless you have an exercise buddy or a group to work with on exercising. There are Senior Centers at public centers as well as church groups that have open classes for seniors.

Find a group and join. Exercising with others will keep you healthier and give you an enjoyable time. Perhaps, who knows, you might even find some new friends.

Sunlight is the best option, but sometimes weather or illness can keep us inside. I know in the summertime, around here, it is often too hot to go out unless it is early in the mmorning.

Walking on the beach is a great way of getting your exercise. If you and your love are still able to walk every morning, then you are among the lucky ones.

Scientist are finding over and over that exercise is one of the best preventative actions we can take for our bodies and minds. Please take this seriously. Walking just 15 to 30 minutes five times a week can make all the difference for your life and the lives of your loved ones.

No one is saying that growing old is a bed of roses, but you can make your life so much better by adding a little exercise. Get up off the chair, stand up and stretch, then start walking. Interesting, last week I read that if you spend a lot of time in front of your computer, like I do, if you get up at least once an hour and walk just into the other room and back,you can do a way with much of the lower back pain that many people have as they grow older. My husband calls me "The Family Circus" gal - but thought I would pass that tidbit on to you.

The goal is to get to about 10,000 steps a day. Does that sound like a lot - think of the alternatives.

Give yourself the gift of extra time - and enjoy the Easter holidays.