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“The eagle has landed. Happy to be here.”

“Just landed, ready to roll.”

“It’s about to go down.”

“Let the party begin.”

I attended a friend’s 70th birthday party this past weekend. It was two days of pure joy. These comments were all from people over 50 years old ready to have fun. Most people who attended were over 50 years old, and you would never know it by the way they were moving. This weekend was a reminder that age is only a number and should not define how you feel. YOLO – you only live once, so do not use age to prevent you from doing anything you desire.

September is Healthy Aging Month. The purpose of this month is to raise attention on the health and well-being of older adults by providing resources to help people stay healthy and independent as they age. Healthy Aging is not anti-aging. It is about being the best you can be at whatever age you find yourself.

What are some of the steps you can take right now?

1. Stay Active– You have to move. There are no shortcuts. I know what the literature says – try to get 30 minutes of exercise at least five days a week. I would love you to do this, but I find this may turn people off. I would love you to do what you love. If you love dancing, then dance. If you love walking, then walk. I want you to move. Take the steps instead of the elevator. Park far away from any entrance so you can get some steps in. Walk with a friend during your lunch break. Move. Move. Move. I love parties because it allows me to dance. Staying active also includes keeping your mind active. I am back in school (more about that on another blog). Reading is a great way to keep your mind active. It does not matter what you are reading as far as you are reading.
2. Eat Healthily – You cannot go wrong with fruits and vegetables. If I look at my plate and cannot trace the origins of the food, I will not be eating the food. Try to cook at home if possible. Sitting down to eat and chewing your food slowly can help decrease your calories. If you have a sweet tooth, work for it. The other day, I had a cinnamon roll calling my name. I looked at it and decided I wanted it. I walked three miles because of that cinnamon roll. When I completed the 3 miles and sat down to eat the cinnamon roll, I had no regrets.
3. Talk with your doctor – I hope everyone reading this blog has established care with a primary care physician. Along with your primary care physician, you should have a gynecologist. The goal of having these providers is for the prevention and early detection of diseases. Talk to your doctors about all your concerns. If your health care provider is not listening to you, it may be time to find a new one. You want a provider you can trust.
4. Quit Smoking – Smoking is bad for your health. Not much more I can say.
5. Keep your home safe – Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Make sure you have done all you can to avoid falls in your house.

Please click here for more information on actions you can take to protect your health as you grow older. 

It has been a long weekend, and I have learned the importance of sleep as I have gotten older. I am glad to have Labor Day off so that I can recharge.