If I’d known I was going to live so long,
I’d have taken better care of myself.
[Leon Eldred]
A couple of years ago, I made several changes in my life. I quit smoking. I joined Curves to avoid weight gain from the first change. And, I signed up for bi-weekly emails from Real Age.com. Taking ten minutes twice a week reading brief articles on RealAge, has probably encouraged me to make other changes I haven’t even noticed.
Since death is unavoidable, I haven’t made changes to avoid death. I’ve made changes to be a giftgiver. I’m giving myself the gift of being as well as possible for whatever time I have on earth so I can function at my peak. I’m giving my loved ones two gifts—my company, if and when they want my company, and my agility in case one of them takes care of me someday.
That last thing might sound odd but think about it. Have you taken care of someone physically? As a nurse, I have. It is a lot easier to take care of someone who is agile, toned, and not over weight. I figure that keeping fit is a gift you give to a future caregiver.
Walking is part of keeping fit. That’s hard to do daily in some regions (like this morning when it is near to zero degrees and snowing). Here are two videos from RealAge to help with the 30 minutes a day walking.
Knitting, writing and other joys 
Okay, Katherine, I guess I’d better get my walking tapes out, start reading my Real Age e-mails and stick to Weight Watchers. You would not believe how much weight I have gained.
How are you fairing weather wise?
Do you sell Ellen’s yarn? No I haven’t taken up knitting (I can work a puppet but not knitting needles) but I have some young friends who crochet, I would love to buying at least one of them some of her yarn.
🙂
Oh so true and a good perspective to consider. A mother and a mother-in-law in my life and the difference between is profound and much of it comes down to their levels of activity and social involvement. We can learn much from observing our elders.
I’d thought of self-care as a gift to me but never from me to someone else. I guess that says something about me, hmm? I have considered the possibility that I wouldn’t be able to effectively care for my loved one because of my own health problems. Perhaps this is a call to action for the two of us. Thanks.
Those are truly wonderful gifts to give.
I SO get that last one. I wish my mother had thought of that long ago as the day may very well come for me to take care of her and she’s not tried to keep agile or her weight down.
xox
Thanks so much for posting these videos. I checked out the Real Age website. Terrific! I’ll be exercising as soon as my husband leaves the house. (I hate exercising in front of an audience).