We should all be interested in
successful aging. In fact, successful aging is a world-wide dream. Because of
significant advances in health care our population is getting older, but are we
achieving a high-quality of life through its extension? Successful aging implies
more than a state of physical well-being. It is a state of complete physical,
mental and social bliss not simply the absence of disease or infirmity. How one
can age without abdication of life's most pleasurable pursuits varies with each
individual. Being up early in the morning, exercising every day, maintaining a
healthy weight and eating a good diet full of antioxidant's are keys to physical
and mental health. Last month I spoke about the values of chocolate as
both an antioxidant and something that can help deal with stress.
As we pursue each new sunrise we should
have goals for this new day. Some gift of love or laughter or creativity in some
individual way. This is how we can successfully age one day at a time.
I know of only one way to stop the
aging process and this thought is unacceptable to me. Age without abdication
should be our motto.
I'll be in touch next month.
Your
friend,
Thomas Petty, MD
