A Giant Difference – Proactive Aging

 

 

 

Last week I read a story about Donald Henderson a U. S. Doctor who led the successful campaign to wipe out small pox worldwide. He was 87 when he died. He was hailed as a “giant” in the field of public health. He advised three Presidents. I wondered how many people read his obituary and how many people knew who he was?

Small pox was a highly contagious virus. It is the only infectious disease to have ever been eradicated. Smallpox has been recorded in the human population for over 3,000 years. A man who lived to 87 eradicated a virus that managed to live for 3000 years! Amazing! This man definitely proactively aged.

Proactive aging is a dedication towards something bigger than you. It transcends your aches and pains, your sadness and your pleasure. The eradication of anything that has the potential to create harm takes time, patience and dedication. All of those attributes can only come with time. With time come age and the question, “what are you doing with your time?” Most of us will never be the “giant” Dr. Henderson was, but we all have the potential to create a better world.

Violence has existed since the beginning of time. If you live to be 87 and beyond (and I hope you do) remember in 87 years you too can eradicate something that has lived for millions of years. Simply do your part to help your fellow humans and to protect the environment. Work to eradicate violence through benevolence and compassion and although you may never be called a “giant” together we can all make a giant difference!  

Doctor Lynn

http://www.facebook.com/DrLynnAnderson

Two Faces in the Mirror - Proactive Aging

 

Which face is the one I see in the mirror? One mirror has lighting that makes me look younger, fresher and with hardly a trace of wrinkles. The other mirror shows every line, crease and flaw.  Depending upon the mirror we all proudly show our face to the world or hide it beneath the shadows of dim light. Our mood is greatly set by the person we see in the mirror. As I look to one mirror and see my aging self and then to the next and see a more youthful version of me I wonder which one of these faces am I?

Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered exactly what you look like? As a mirror reflecting back at you, I can tell you that all those flaws you see and wrinkles you try to hide are not visible to me. Yes it is true that good lighting can hide a multitude of sins. But it is also true that natural lighting reveals the truth and the truth is we are never what we think we look like. We are recognized by our outward appearance and quite often judged by how we look. But the real person behind the reflection reveals your true identity.

We cannot hide anger, deceit, greed and pride. The best lightening and pounds of make-up will not hide character.  We may choose to only look into the mirror that reflects back the best of our physical attributes, but it will quickly fade as soon as we walk into natural light.  The real reflection of you is not found in the mirror. It is found in your character. So reflect to the world a sense of caring, a sense of joy, compassion for all and a deep understanding of the true essence of life.  You are neither of the two faces you see in the mirror.   When you understand this you will no longer be concerned with the wrinkles and flaws. Instead you will look to your character and know from your soul that the best reflection of all is the one that respects and honors all of life for its beauty and not its flaws.  This is proactive again. Appreciate yourself and honor your soul.

 

Doctor Lynn

http://www.facebook.com/DrLynnAnderson

Slow Down –Proactive Aging

 

 

 

When the moment of slow down comes you will know it. It will most likely come with some aches and pains and a bit of exhaustion.  Slowdown is the voice that says “time to slow down and take a rest or at least pace you.” This is not an easy thing for me to do. Arthritic pain, a pinched nerve and a damaged rotator cuff has brought me to that moment of slow down and reassess. What can I cut out of my day to help me heal? What should I do to help me heal? This is not about slowing down, but about healing. However, healing is going to require that I slow down.

So I did an assessment of my daily activities and divided them into the must dos, I would like to dos and the fun dos that I can put aside. I am going to physical therapy which I believe is one of the best tools for bringing the body back to balance. Further I always eat healthy and exercise and I get plenty of sleep. But when I am awake it is tough for me to slow down.

I need to spend less time at the computer and more time restfully moving. Like going and having my nails done, reading a magazine and just putting my feet up with a cup of tea. I need to teach my classes but I can modify my movements so as to minimize my physical activity. I need to write and work on my projects. But I think I will limit this computer time to only a few short hours a day.

Right now I have time to kick back and rebalance. Right now I have time to refocus. Right now I have time to take care of me. Right now I am just going to slow down and enjoy some quiet moments. This is a must do!  This reminds me of a Neil Young song; Slow Poke. The faster I ran; the further behind.  It is time to slow down.

Doctor Lynn

http://www.facebook.com/DrLynnAnderson

My Hands – Proactive Aging – they are the markers of my life

 

Gazing down at my hands my age is revealed. No longer do my hands look young. Although long they are thin and prone to wrinkles, ridges and age spots. I can hide my sagging body from the world, but not my face and my hands. The hands are a dead giveaway as to a person’s age.

I look with an inquisitive nature. How did my hands get this old? I don’t feel this old and yet my hands tell me something different. I have a slight bit of arthritis in my hands. I know this will only get worse with time.  I wonder if someday I will not be able to use my hands. I hope not because they have served me well. I cook, clean, create, hold, hug and reach out with these hands. I have prayed with these hands. They are the markers of my life. So I have decided to accept the wrinkles, sags and aging spots, to be kind to them every day and appreciate the many things they can do.  

The palms of my hands reveal the lines of my life. My life line indicates good health. My heart line reveals that I am satisfied with my love life and my head line indicates that I am practical, intelligent and look at many possibilities before taking action.

My index finger represents my ego and my thumb is my higher power. Every day I take a moment to bend my index finger and place my thumb on top reminding myself to bow my ego to something bigger than my earthly self.  

Every day I exercise my hands.  Not to remove the aging, but to take care of them because in life a limber outstretched helping hand is all that is needed to  live a full life, keep the heart loving  and  to stay open to all the possibilities of life.  Love your hands. That’s proactive aging.

Doctor Lynn

http://www.facebook.com/DrLynnAnderson