Feeling positive, enjoying where you are, and acknowledging who you are can make your brain healthier and keeps your body functioning well. No one knows for sure why a positive attitude seems to lead to a longer life but it does.

If you were to ask me the question, what’s so good about aging, my instinct would probably be to dwell on all the nastiness of aging – friends who are ill or who died, the fact that I can’t jog 6 miles anymore or get things done as quickly as I used to, and I need to focus more when creating a strategy or learning something that’s technical.

Our society does prize youth and beauty and old age doesn’t fit with that. The fact is messages about aging tend to emphasize the negative aspects.  However, like fine wine, people can get better as they age.

One of my own personal theories about people as they age is that they merely become MORE  of who they are. If they are persistent and pleasant and intelligent they will remain so in their 70′s and 80′s and 90′s. If they have a sense of humor when they’re 30, they’ll keep that sense of humor when they’re 90. The only factor to upset the apple cart is if they become ill because disease and treatments can change personalities.

The point is that experience along with maturity gives older people excellent insight. They are more in touch with their spirituality and the priorities in their life no matter the facial wrinkles. Some even managed to preserve their health and energy.

There also was a large study few years ago that suggested that happiness can lower levels of inflammation and the stress hormone cortisol which is associated with problems in learning, memory and other cognitive functions. Apparently, feelings of contentment and well being bring mental and physical benefits that counteract any negative thinking.

My suggestion, open yourself to humor and friendship. If you are feeling down in the dumps take a walk with a friend and go out of your way to find reasons to laugh and to spend time with people you enjoy. This is not a secret.

To your success at healthy aging.

Ruthan Brodsky

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Filed under: Aging Gracefully

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