The Aging Process

So what are some of the signs of the aging process? We begin to walk little slower and to hold reading material just a little closer or a little further away. The older we get, the more tired we seem to be and getting to have an afternoon nap sounds might appealing. We need to start making lists just to remember things to do. You notice you see better in daylight than at night and all those things that used to be north now tend to droop to the south. Unless you begin to experience a chronic disorder there is no reason to accept anything less that optimum health. There are conditions and disorders that are going to occur as we age and the goal is to minimize the impact of these conditions.

Live the Dream

We all have dreams, our hearts desires that bring meaning to our lives. Some are based in reality while others are merely flights of fantasy but they all can plant seeds of possibilities. You may not be able to live the dream you had as a ten year old to be an astronaut but there are still many dreams that are still possible. What is it that you would love to do with your life if you had the time and money? It can be as simple as planting the garden of your dreams or moving to a city where you always wanted to live. On highway 71 approaching the exit to Nevada, there is a picture of Kermit the Frog. On the billboard are the words: Eats flies. Dates a pig. Hollywood star. Live your Dream. In our efforts to establish our careers and raise our kids, it is easy for life to pass us by. We are so caught up in daily affairs, that we reach retirement and find we never fulfilled our dream but there is still time. Decide what it is that you always wanted to do and make plans to accomplish your dreams. Remember when we were kids and told to shoot for the moon, because even if we missed we would land among the stars?

Set New Goals

The children are raised and hopefully on their own and not back in the nest. Youve finished your career and retirement has begun now what? Dreams are like a road map to new goals. Setting a goal is the best way of getting from point A to Point B to eventually the finish line. With every goal accomplished, set a new one.

When I went to the University I was one of The Advocate Mentors. We attended a retreat where we were all assigned 10 students we were to get to know and mentor through their University Years. Each Advocate was to teach one course. When I attended the goal setting class we were handed scissors, glue and magazines and told to cut out pictures representing our goals. I though this was so dumb but as Advocate role model I went along and created my goal poster. Nine years later I still have it and it hangs in my office where I see it often. Body + Soul magazine (August, 2006) refers to this as a vision map that serves as a visual trigger for your dreams so you can literally and figuratively keep them in sight. Take old magazines and catalogs to find words and pictures of objects, places, scenes or expressions that capture the essence of your dreams. Your poster doesnt need to be perfect or even grounded in reality. These are visuals of your dreams intended to inspire you to achieve them.

Meditate

Meditation is the opportunity to let your mind wander and your spirit to re-energize. Begin with some deep breathing exercises to start the relaxation process. Take a moment to focus on the sounds and smells around you. Select a calming thought and thoroughly focus and explore it before moving on. Calm is a state you create in the midst of chaos. Allow yourself the opportunity to day dream. Dreams have the potential to change your life. Dreams give you ideas for life so let them inspire you to move forward. Dont focus on the time. Let the experience dictate the amount of time you spend meditating.

Get Involved Volunteer

Maybe you were a stock broker but you always wanted to be a doctor. Maybe you were a nurse but you always wanted to be a teacher. Over the years many agencies have found it difficult to find enough volunteers to carry out their programs. Take time to get involved in your community and fulfill some of these vacancies. But the number one reason to volunteer is to make a contribution and put your particular skills and talents to work. If you wanted to be a doctor, volunteer in a hospital. If you wanted to be a teacher, volunteer to be an aid in the local school to give teachers a break.

Eat Well Exercise Attitude

The Article 3 Keys To Better Health (www.betterhealthforum.com) speaks to the necessity of maintaining a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise and maintaining a healthy attitude.

There is a connection between diet and disease. Choose a healthy diet low in sugar and saturated fats. Eat foods that will provide all the nutrients necessary to stay healthy but if your diet is lacking be sure to add a vitamin supplement. To begin an exercise program, dont start out by overdoing it. Commit to a daily walk, increasing the distance on a daily basis. In a national poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, 75 percent of respondents experienced sleep problems. If you have trouble sleeping, dont turn to taking sleep aids since these can become habit forming. Think of going to sleep as a ritual and prepare for it. Make a conscious effort to relax and unwind. Take a warm herbal bath and drink a glass of warm milk. Dont turn on the television or go to bed with a book to read.

Keep a sense of humor

Every year there are studies that indicate the evidence between emotions and their impact on basic health. Laughter activates the chemistry to help the body to fight disease. By the time a child reaches nursery school they laugh about 300 times a day adults laugh an average of 17 times a day. Think about how good you feel after a really good belly laugh. Our grandparents knew a sense of humor not only enriches life, but promotes physical and mental health.

While you do not have total control over the aging process, there are things you can do. Begin today to do the things in your power to maintain a high quality of life as you age.

Keywords: anti ageing, healthy ageing, ageing process, age and ageing, signs of ageing, ageing, health and ageing, effects of ageing, golden years

About the Author
Linda Miller, Chatsworth
linda@betterhealthforum.com

What is meditation?

Meditation usually refers to a state in which the body is consciously relaxed and the mind is allowed to become calm and focused. Several major religions include ritual meditation; however, meditation itself need not be a religious or spiritual activity. Most of the more popular systems of meditation are of Eastern origin, though there exists also various forms of Christian, Jewish and Muslim meditation.
Meditation as a form of alternative medicine brings about mental calmness and physical relaxation by suspending the stream of thoughts that normally occupy the mind. Generally performed once or twice a day for approximately 20 minutes at a time, meditation is used to reduce stress, alter hormone levels, and elevate one's mood.
A discipline in which the mind is focused on a single point of reference. Employed since ancient times in various forms by all religions, the practice gained greater notice in the post war US as interest in Zen Buddhism rose. Meditation is now used by many nonreligious adherents as a method of stress reduction; known to lower levels of cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress. Enhances recuperation and improves the body’s resistance to disease.
Meditation is an easy and simple way to balance a person's physical, emotional, and mental states. It is easily learned and has been used as an aid in treating stress, anxiety, pain management, and as part of an overall treatment for other conditions including hypertension and heart disease. Research shows that meditation decreases the heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen consumption, and even decreases blood pressure.