Live Well After 50

As my 17-year-old graduate stands at the beginning of her adult life, she’s both excited and afraid of what the next chapters will hold. I am too, though mostly just excited. Her good-old days are in the making and yet to come. In some ways, my good-old days are behind me; my babies are grown and my cradle-rocking is reserved for grandchildren, now. Yes, I still have kids at home, including one in elementary school, but even a “young 50” is no spring chicken (might even be ‘old-as-dirt,’ depending on who you listen to). Being 50 doesn’t mean it’s time to give up living, don the granny bonnet, and pick up the knitting needles. Generally speaking, a 50-year-old man or woman who is healthy, strong and active is able to enjoy life to a fuller extent than a weak, inactive person of any age. The number of years you’ve been alive and even genetics need not dictate your quality of life. Lifestyle has more to do with that than anything, and lifestyle is a choice. Determine what’s important to you (hopefully you did that a long time ago, and if not, better late than never), and follow a path that reflects what you value. If you value strength, invest time in a strength-building program. If you value heart-health, invest time in a cardiovascular strengthening program. If you value your relationships, invest your time with the people you love, building those relationships (this is wise investment, by the way). Your choices determine your success or failure in any venture more than your age or genetics. One wise doctor said: "You must remain active and engaged. By that, I mean physically and mentally active and socially engaged…Aerobic and resistance exercises, a balanced diet…low in saturated fat and high in fruits and vegetables…and social outings to keep you sharp…Get your immunizations, your cancer screening tests, your cardiac and osteoporosis risk factors assessed…" (James Pacala, MD, MS, italics added). Let’s look toward the last few chapters in life with that same energy our graduates feel as they look toward the first few chapters. Like those 17 and 18- year-old kids, we all have the rest of life ahead of us. What we make of it is a choice. Be proactive. Don’t simply allow the years to pass as you wait to get old. You’re in control. For you who haven’t reached the big five-O and beyond: there’s better than a 95% chance you’ll arrive here someday, so plan ahead. It’s a lot more fun to be an old woman (or old man), if you can breathe well, move how you want to, and still keep up with them young-uns! Trust me on this one.