One of the members of our VA forum was doing research for a client on women’s health issues in the mid-life years and asked for suggestions to be added to the list she’d compiled. Many came back with additional problems and then discussions took place on how old or young each feel and various problems different ones had.
One member gave advice to the younger ones about the importance of keeping active. As I read it I was reminded of my grandmother, whom I adored.
My grandmother passed away at the age of 98 years. She spent the last couple of years in a home because her body was failing her and she couldn’t do the housework and stuff. She had an incredibly active mind and was very alert.
Her recipe for long life?
Never stop learning. She told me when I was 14 ‘the day I stop learning is the day I die’. I have never forgotten that piece of advice. She used to teach herself a new word a day out of the dictionary – she loved crosswords and other word puzzles. She played the piano and loved to hand write music – she spent hours copying music because she loved doing it.
Never stop doing. She was always gardening, and walking and in her younger days was a horse rider. She drove everywhere and only gave up her license in her 80s when a car crashed into her robust FC Holden sedan – hardly any damage to her car. But she recognised it was the lack of quick reflexes that meant she couldn’t avoid someone hitting her as she came out of a shopping car park (mind you it was on the rise of a hill and very hard to see if there was any oncoming traffic till you were actually out on the road).
I loved and admired my grandmother and she was strong, healthy and after having cataracts removed from her eyes in her 70s was able to go without glasses again and drive at night-time, something she’d not been able to do for years.
Because we (Virtual Assistants, both male and female) all work at home, and in front of computers, it is important that we make the effort to get up off our seats and get some exercise.
Lack of Vitamin D can be another problem for those of us indoors all the time. My renewed passion for photography has gotten me back outside in the fresh air and walking miles in the countryside, always looking for that special shot.
We all need hobbies or something that will get us out and about – particularly those of us who aren’t running kids around!
Mary H Ruth says
Excellent advice, Kathie. It’s a difficult discipline to get up from the computer every hour or so and stretch, but so worth doing. And I’ve lately been concerned about vitamin D, as well. The mid-day walk is really where it’s at.
Beverly Mahone says
I used to work out a gym with a woman who was 88 years old. She was so limber–it put me to shame 🙂 But you’re right–you’ve got to keep doing to maintain good health. One thing I heard someone say once is, “Even on the days you don’t want to exercise, do it anyway–you’ll get even greater results.”