SLOWING DOWN THE PROCESS OF SLOWING DOWN

As we age, there are certain things that can be expected to change. It’s not uncommon to lose some muscle strength, speed, some cognitive functions. But it doesn’t always have to happen that way – certainly not for everyone, although genetics does play a role that some people are unfortunately not able to overcome..

Once you acknowledge the fact that passive acceptance of decline is your default position, you have changed the rules of the aging game. It’s like gambling on your own team to lose.

We now have the science to support the idea that most people can thrive as an older adult and can keep doing so for a long time. I’m 86, and I’m not the oldest active adult that I know. I’ve already shared that I don’t walk as fast as I could when I was younger, and I’m not as flexible, and I can’t lift as much weight.

But I walk for at least 45 minutes a day, am flexible enough to do a number of yoga poses, and I take pride in the fact that some younger guys struggle to lift less weight than I can (although I don’t look down on them because they’re lifting more than the majority of people who don’t lift at all). I also benefit from hearing aids – although I don’t always need or wear them. I also think that I work as hard as I’ve ever done in my life, and I think that I’m as mentally sharp as ever (although I don’t know what others say about this behind my back).

I do think that it’s easier to avoid decline when you’re younger, but poor eating, sleep, and exercise habits at a younger age set the tone that ultimately makes it easier to decline when you get older. But it’s not impossible to reverse the process as an older adult – although it’s better if you are keeping the body and brain active and staying socially connected throughout the lifespan so that your system is ready to thrive at every age.

Passivity is the bedfellow of decline and activity is the enemy of decline. There are now plenty of healthy older adults around who are able to prove that you can slow down the process of slowing down. Let them be your role models!