I know I want to live as long as I can, and as healthy as I can. I know others want to do the same, too, as many come to me for health and wellness counseling. And if comfortable longevity is our common goal, then making lifestyle adjustments now to increase this chance later makes good great sense!
Even though we want a long, happy, healthy life, we still do things to sabotage it, like smoking and drinking too much alcohol, and eating badly and not exercising. Sure, those things may seem harmless now, but ALL of them have been proven to shorten your life by many years, taking you away from everyone and everything you love.
I started thinking about why living a happy, healthy long life is a sound and noble pursuit. I hope to convince you to make changes today so that you will be around as long as possible, for your own benefit and enjoyment as well as that of others.
Why? Because We Can
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the top 10 causes are:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases (COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis)
- Accidents
- Stroke
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Diabetes
- Influenza and pneumonia
- Kidney disease (Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis)
- Intentional self-harm (suicide)
Well, there isn’t much we can do about #4 (accidents), because let’s face it, they just happen. Perhaps if we were more aware of our surrounding, then maybe accidents wouldn’t happen as often. But there has been TONS of research done on the rest, and proven results show that most are largely preventable – some even reversible – which means that a long and healthy life IS possible!
Just click through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and see what I mean. A long, healthy, and happy life can be had if we have the right tools.
Why? Because The World Needs Your Wisdom
The knowledge we accumulate throughout our lifetime is a valuable commodity, and we shouldn’t keep it to ourselves. We need to share it and teach it to others, either in person or online, and make a positive difference in the world!
Active and engaged seniors are the bedrock of any community. They are wise, value service over recognition, understand life’s challenges, and have time-sensitive perspective on life. Those who remain positive into old age possess keys to happiness that can benefit everyone.
Follow their example, and share what you know. Volunteer at a nonprofit organization, sing in a choir, teach others how to speak a foreign language or set up a small business. Or maybe you can start a blog and share your life experience that way 🙂 However you do it, just do it. Your community — neighborhood, town, church, internet — will benefit from it.
Why? Because You Get More Time to Get It Right
The top 5 deathbed regrets are:
- Not having lived an authentic life being uniquely oneself
- Putting in too many long, hard hours at unfulfilling work
- Not having had the courage to express personal feelings to others
- Losing touch with friends
- Not having allowed oneself to be happier
No more lamenting over the shoulda-coulda-woulda’s. Now is the time to plan and prepare for a physically and financially independent second half of life.
What lights you up? What gives your life a feeling of purpose? With whom do you enjoy spending time? What do you want others to know about you and from you?
We need to use the answers to those questions inspire us to make the necessary changes in our lives, so that we are able to have enough time time to enjoy life, and die without regret.
Why? Because You Get To Spend More Time With The People You Love
Our partners, children, grandchildren, pets and friends are irreplaceable joys. Why would we not want to share more time with them? With a passionate mindset and well-managed health, life can be a grand party that you never want to end!
The time to prepare for this is now. Aim for a long, healthy life by listening to your doctors and wellness practitioners who live their longevity message and teach others how to do the same. The information is there. All you have to do is use it, starting today.
