By Randy Moore – I’ve become increasingly interested in longevity as I’ve gotten older. Funny how that works. I coined the term Positive Longevity a few years ago in my efforts to teach myself and others the benefits of a more positive approach to aging.
Positive Longevity includes mindfulness and choices related to these 10 areas: Nutrition, Exercise, Humor, Relationships, Faith, Self-Love, Gratitude, Purpose, Avocations, and Resilience. It involves eating healthier, being active, doing meaningful things, and the joy of learning.
Positive Longevity is not anti-aging, a popular term with many products and techniques targeting mostly baby boomers. I don’t pay much attention to any appeal that treats aging as an ailment or condition. Aging is part of life and that includes wrinkles, less hair and regular fashion faux pas.
Instead of anti-anything, I prefer to focus on positive ideas, habits and thoughts. This explains why I study the Blue Zone communities around the world where many adults live much longer without chronic diseases and diminished cognition.
I read a book recently by John Robinson titled The Three Secrets of Aging. John explains that our older years can lead to a transformation of our inner self. He sees aging as a spiritual practice when we can be more reflective without all the distractions that framed our earlier years. Normal distractions like developing confidence, making money, building a career, finding a mate, raising a family, surviving divorce, etc.
Robinson advocates adults becoming enlightened elders. That’s the opposite of becoming a cantankerous old fogie. He says we can experience Heaven on Earth when we focus our attention on positive thoughts and deeds. Some people will find this higher potential a bridge too far, but it’s a reminder that our prevailing thoughts are important to our experience of life. It’s true for our feelings too.
Here are three tips for fostering Positive Longevity. The first tip is to quit watching so much television and especially the news. This also applies to hate talk radio. The repetitive negativity of news combined with jolly pharmaceutical commercials every 5 minutes is a form of brainwashing that produces anger, fear and ignorance. Take charge of what you are feeding your mind and emotions.
The second tip is to limit your time on social media to 30-40 minutes a day. Sure, it’s nice to see what your loved ones are up to, but do you really need to know what a stranger ate for lunch? Our slick phones should be tools we manage and not a lifestyle managing us.
The third tip is to spend more time outside at parks, preserves, beaches, and your back yard. Few things stimulate positive thoughts and feelings more than fresh air, sunshine and encounters with wildlife. Best wishes to you and your loved ones for a fun and healthy summer.
Randy Moore is the publisher and editor of Englewood Healthy Living and South County Healthy Living. Randy@Triple3Marketing.com.