Let’s grow old together with me!
The best is yet to come,
The last life where the first life was created:
—From “Rabbi Ben Ezra” by Robert Browning
When I first wrote a column about aging, the title was “Ladies and gentlemen, what’s so hard about turning 40?” Because it didn’t seem like a big deal. In fact, I came out of that decade relatively unscathed.
Luann Austin
But turning 70 seems like a big deal.
Turning 50 didn’t seem to bother me, but a few years later I was dealing with squeaky joints (which went away by taking yoga classes) and a bout with breast cancer. I was forced to face my own mortality and different aspects of myself. mental, physical and emotional health.
At the age of 60, I thought deeply about the death of my parents. They both died in their mid-60s. Will I outlive them?
Now, as I approach age 70, I can say that by the grace of God, I am much healthier than my parents were when they were 50.
However, 70 years old is still very old.
These days, no one says to me, “But you don’t look old enough to have grandchildren!” My hair is naturally white and I have wrinkles around my eyes. (Oh, my legs are wrinkled!)
Other signs of aging:
I usually go to bed by 9:30 p.m. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes more often than tight-fitting clothes and high heels. I find it difficult to tolerate my obsession with my cell phone. Wednesday’s newspaper is my favorite. Grocery store insert.
I am grateful for what I have for myself: a loving family, a debt-free home in the country. If you have a health concern, address it immediately. I have treated prediabetes, cancer, bad cholesterol, diverticulitis, piriformis syndrome, plantar fasciitis, dizziness, and more.
I knew how, but I started good health habits at a young age. That includes eating whole foods cooked from scratch, doing some form of cardio almost every day, and strength training.
I’m sticking with a recent quote from a yoga instructor: “You move like a much younger woman.”
One thing I overlooked when developing all these healthy habits was dental care. You would think that watching my parents get dentures in their 30s would have taught me that lesson. I have been suffering from oral health issues for years, but about 10 years ago I finally started taking care of my mouth daily and getting checkups twice a year.
Poor oral health can lead to bacteria growing in other parts of the body, causing infection and inflammation, which can lead to a variety of serious health problems.
Managing stress is also paramount. The Mayo Clinic says that overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones can disrupt nearly every process in your body. This puts you at risk for many health problems, including depression, digestive disorders, headaches, muscle pain, heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, stroke, sleep problems, weight gain, and problems with memory and concentration. It will be expensive.
The best way I know to deal with stress is to go outside every day and enjoy the sunshine, fresh air, and nature, and practice mental disciplines that help you let go of things you can’t control. That means spending time with friends and family.
Despite the aging process, in many ways, for better or for worse, I am still the same age I have always been. Some things haven’t changed at all.
When I was 7 years old, my favorite things were reading, riding my bike, and playing with my friends.
And at the age of 30, “Rabbi ben Ezra” was my favorite poem.
