What Is the Secret to Anti-Aging?

I'm often told, "Keep smiling it will make people wonder what you are up to." We live in a world full of negativity, bad news, political scandal, and unrealistic expectations. Sometimes stress can cause unsightly wrinkles, but so does a life of laughter. We try to hide our wrinkles, but why? Laugh lines, simply mean, that you have lived.

As a, "thirty something,” female, I've come to realize that life approaches and passes so quickly, and gives you no time to catch up. No excuse can ever justify what you have missed in a fast paced drive through society. Our life shouldn't be a drive through, but we treat each day as such.

Your skin care routine has to change, your body changes, exercise is now more important than ever; your body does not pop back as quickly as it once did in it's twenties. I often times am told how young I look, and though I nod with a smile, only the inner me knows what I feel like on the inside sometimes. I've learned that rest is so important, God actually commands us to rest at least once a week, and with good reason. Even God rested after working six days. People try and try to work their lives away, materialistically minded, but we miss out on some really important things.

What you do now will certainly affect you in the future with no turning back. How do I know this? I work in healthcare. Listen to your elders people you can learn lots.

I work in the healthcare field, and have come across many elderly people who look like they haven’t lived a day over seventy. I see 100+ year old people that can still walk and do a lot for themselves with minimal assistance! I often times will ask, what is your secret to staying so healthy? I mean let's admit it, you're no spring chicken!

I’ve gotten these answers so far:

• “Have a teaspoon of honey per day, and do not talk about people, you'll live longer."
• “Skating. Keep active every day. Stop eating junk food.
• "Garlic, absolutely eat garlic on everything."
• “Just keep a positive attitude, there’s nothing you can do about it anyways is there?” Laughter is the best medicine after all. If you can't laugh at yourself you'll never make it through life. A merry heart, is the best medicine.
• Do you know why they call it the Golden Years? It costs just as much!

Okay so that last one was a little joke I was told, but I believe above all things, keeping positive is the main ingredient.

People are living longer due to medical advances, but the generations before me have certainly learned the secrets of staying healthy. The current generation has certainly reaped the effects of antibiotic abuse, so now we have new strains of super-bugs and all sorts of health threats. The boomers might have a think or two to teach us. Simply things, like washing your hands! We use all kinds of chemicals in our beauty routines. Do we really know what we are ingesting through our skin and hair? Simple really is best.

Before our world was overpopulated with antibiotic use which led to MRSA and VRE issues, ESBL (Super Bugs) overly processed foods. Staying inside and using technology has replaced good old outdoor fun. I often wonder if SPF is the cause, or if the sun has simply become worse due to pollution. There are so many factors we could go over, but the one thing I see to be true, is that a positive attitude, keeping stress to a minimal and finding the joy in every day is where it lies.

Aging is more than just the outer man, there is much to be said about our social lives that can contribute to our overall well-being and development into our late years.

Erik Erikson's theory of psycho social development is one of the best-known theories of personality in psychology. Much like Sigmund Freud, Erikson believed that personality develops in a series of stages. Unlike Freud's theory of psycho sexual stages, Erikson's theory describes the impact of social experience across the whole lifespan.

It is human to have a long childhood; it is civilized to have an even longer childhood. Long childhood makes a technical and mental virtuoso out of man, but it also leaves a life-long residue of emotional immaturity in him.

— Erik Homburger Erikson (1902-1994)

The chart below represents the stages we go through in our lives. Could it be that if we fail to be successful in one of these areas, that it could affect our mental state, and therefore cause us to age quicker?

Maya Angelou wrote a poem about what you should and shouldn't have, and what you should be by the time you hit age 30. I’m now turning 33 and most of them I can put a check mark on……some I am still working on. This was posted in Glamour magazine, in February 2007, and has become quite a chain letter, on Facebook and in emails. Is a joy to read, known as Maya Angelou's best poem ever.

By 30, you should have:

1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come.
2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.
3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.
4. A purse, a suitcase and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.
5. A youth you’re content to move beyond.
6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.
7. The realization that you are actually going to havean old age—and some money set aside to help fund it.
8. An e-mail address, a voice mailbox and a bank account—all of which nobody has access to but you.
9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.
10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.
11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill and a black lace bra.
12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it.
13. The belief that you deserve it.
14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30.
15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship and all those other facets of life that do get better.

By 30, you should know:

1. How to fall in love without losing yourself.
2. How you feel about having kids.
3. How to quit a job, break up with a man and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.
4. When to try harder and when to walk away.
5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.
6. The names of: the secretary of state, your great-grandmother and the best tailor in town.
7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.
8. How to take control of your own birthday.
9. That you can’t change the length of your calves, the width of your hips or the nature of your parents.
10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.
11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.
12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs or not flossing for very long.
13. Who you can trust, who you can’t and why you shouldn’t take it personally.
14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.
15. Why they say life begins at 30.

There really is no amazing anti-aging secret or potion to staying young, you simply have to love the body you are in, and take care of it the best you can, and live life to the fullest! We do not get younger! Have no regrets, keep smiling and create more laugh lines. If you can't beat em, join em! DANCE!