The first thing is some people should never retire because this kills a lot of workaholics. The next thing is diet and the next thing is "Can you entertain yourself?" and the next thing is having enough money to not freeze to death or starve during the winters.
Though all these things are important, I think at this point after being forced to retire at age 50 because of my health that ADAPTABILITY might be the most important characteristic of growing older that I know of.
Why?
Because if you are not adaptable enough to whatever comes in your life then you are soon gone mentally or physically or both.
So, learning to be adaptable is of paramount importance if you want to live a long time.
For example, I find that walking outside int he fresh air at the mountains or beaches or wherever you love to be where the air is fresh and clean might be a big factor in longevity too. So, location is important as well in living a long time.
But, being adaptable enough when a doctor tells you something to actually do what they say also will keep you alive.
For example, I had a friend who was very religious who wouldn't have open heart surgery and died at 62 because of his religious principles. It's not that religious principles are wrong it's just he couldn't survive his principles and then was gone. The same with my father who got prostate cancer and then tried a macrobiotic diet to cure his cancer and this didn't work. His Prostate cancer eventually turned into bladder and kidney cancer through metasizing and then he died 5 years later of bone cancer which I don't think is curable even still sort of like most types of lung cancer.
The point is if you need and operation often it is better to do that operation so you don't die.
For example, I had a burst appendix that they didn't diagnose when I first went to the hospital. A week later after almost dying from it I asked for a sonogram and they gave me a Cat Scan and told me I needed an emergency operation. However, this operation then ruined my quality of life because they didn't tell me that I might cough for a month which gave me a hernia. Then I couldn't get my hernia operation done because I couldn't be put under anymore after that. So, I have now lived with a Temporary or permanent disability of a naval hernia near my belly button which has affected the muscles in my left hip. So, i had to give up riding a motorcycle (because I can't pick it up if it falls) and I finally had to give up skiing (which is likely in my 70s my favorite thing to do.
However, both motorcycles (mostly off road or country riding) or skiing also could have eventually taken my life too because both can be hazardous. So, maybe God wanted me to stay alive a really long time?
But, what has kept me alive to age 76 so far the most? Probably adaptability and having a good wife and home and life here on the ocean somewhat near San Francisco.
So, be adaptable if you want to live to old age so your mind doesn't get stuck someplace that eventually kills you.
Happy New Year!
By God's Grace
No comments:
Post a Comment