It’s Time to Live
One of my goals in life is to live to be 100 or more. As strange as that sounds, becoming a “centenarian” might not be as hard as I think. A new study by health and longevity experts suggests that over half of babies born today will live to 100. Half of today’s college students can also expect to celebrate this birthday milestone if they live a healthy life, eating well and exercising. Click here to read the article in its entirety.
If we are going to live to 100 or more, we need to really be living. This means going after our goals and not just letting life pass us by. 100 years seems like a long time now, but it will probably fly by just like the last “X” number of years have. Life is never guaranteed and we need to make the most of the time we are given. For those who don’t know… my friend Kimi recently passed away. She was someone who really took time to enjoy her life and enrich those of everyone around her. Kimi loved human interaction, and encouraged it whenever she should. She brought a lot of good into the world in her short time here. Read about her life and her impact on the world. We can all take steps to enrich our lives and live more intensely.
Keep Focused: Stay in the moment. Always be aware of the present. Take note of your surroundings and enjoy them. Too often we rush through our lives from one task to another. Keep your memory sharp by presenting it with creative challenges (puzzles, experiments, social interaction, etc). Don’t abuse alcohol or drugs that dampen the senses. One of my favorite quotes comes from a book called “The Last American Man”:
“There is no way that you can have a decent life as a man if you aren’t awake and aware every moment. Show up for your own life. Don’t pass your days in a stupor, content to swallow whatever watery ideas modern society may bottle feed you through the media, satisfied to slumber through life in an instant gratification sugar coma. The most extraordinary gift you’ve been given is your own humanity, which is about consciousness. So honor that consciousness.”
Eat Smart: Eat a wide variety of foods, and always take a chance to expose yourself to something new. Choose fresh, organic foods when possible. Follow Michael Pollan’s advice: “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.” Your body gathers nutrients and essential health compounds from the foods you eat. Read about “Eating in America”:
Relax: Take some time to relax when you are feeling stressed. Stress is an absolute nightmare for the body. It raises blood pressure and anxiety, advances the aging process, and increases the risk of many illnesses, particularly those that are cardiovascular-related. Take time out every day to sit down, enjoy a mug of your favorite beverage, or meditate. Read my post on taking “time-out” to enjoy life here.
Sleep Soundly: Sleep is the best thing you can do to help your body, increase your overall lifespan, and to look and feel younger. The human body undergoes various restorative processes during the sleep cycle, repairing damaged tissues and cells, and compiling memory and mental functions. If you have a hard time getting to sleep at night, read my post on How to Become a Better Sleeper.
Look Your Best: Always take time to put on your best appearance to the world. This doesn’t mean you have to dress up every time you go out (I’m not a huge fan of dress clothes myself…I prefer a old pair of jeans and a comfy t-shirt). But it does mean you should keep your appearance up. Brush your teeth at least daily. Stay clean by showering often, and applying light, natural scents to your skin. Keep your hair and nails neat and trimmed. These may seem like common sense tips, but they are often neglected. Not only will these small things make you look better, you will feel better about yourself as a result.
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