Because stopping means dying. “Senior Moments” might be something we joke about, but they do happen and they are scary. And from there things tend to get even more frightening: loss of balance, loss of coordination, loss of memory, loss of good health.

 The good news: You can slow this process.
The bad news: Eat right, Exercise, Engage your mind, Socialize and Rest
The problem: Motivation
The fix: You decide

 Too often we are motivated to be healthy by the wrong things. Maybe as simple as a feeling of guilt: you don’t fit into your favorite pants anymore. Or you think, “Well, my doctor says I should,” or for all of you girls “Well, all of my girlfriends are working out.” The truth is you simply can’t succeed in the long run if this is what’s driving you. It’s almost inevitable that you will burn out and end up back on the couch.

 So what are the right things? That’s up to you. Personally, I want to be working cattle at age 100. I want to dance at my granddaughters’ weddings. I want to take my great grandchildren horseback riding. And, although it might be entertaining, I don’t want to burden my children with losing my memory even though they may think I already have.

 Now you may think it’s unrealistic to have those goals, but the bottom line is that it’s up to each of us to determine if those goals are achieved. And who says you can’t enjoy trying to meet your goals? It is only tedious if you make that way. And if it is tedious, you’ll burn out and yep, end up back on the couch. So have fun.

 If you feel like exercise is punishment or find yourself procrastinating all of the time, whatever you’re doing isn’t the right choice for you. Try something different and then change it up often so you don’t get bored. Go hiking, walking, riding bikes, yoga, swimming, salsa dancing, belly dancing, western dancing, or any kind of dancing. Find a friend to do it with – you’ll laugh more and encourage one another. But the important thing is to do something. Get your heart rate up and your lungs open. Oxygen is one of the best natural supplements for your mind.

 The same goes with your diet. You know what you aren’t supposed to eat. So have fun with what you are supposed to eat. Go to some cooking classes or join a cooking group. Hey! That will give you extra points because you’ll be engaging your mind, socializing and working on your diet. Travel a little and get a taste of Louisiana, south Texas or maybe even the Mediterranean. There are some great foods that are actually healthy – and this includes desserts. Or, if none of that sounds appealing, tell your wife to put down the grease and quit making homemade pies and cakes every day. (If nothing else, your life may be dramatically shortened after this statement and you won’t have to worry with being healthy.)

 What is the one thing you have always wanted to learn to do? Or the one place you have always wanted to go? Well, you are retired. You have the time. So do it! It might be scary: You haven’t been to a school in a long time and don’t know if you can cut it anymore. Well, remember this is for you. You don’t need to impress anyone. The worse thing you could do is regret not doing it.

 Now for the easy part. Well, maybe not for everyone. Learn to relax and have patience. Not turn on the TV and turn off your mind. I mean truly relax. Stress can have a serious impact on your memory. So find a place just for you. Sit on the back porch and watch the sun rise. While there, try that thing they call meditating. Block out the bearded man on a mountaintop image. Meditating simply means to breathe deeply and stop thinking about all of the chaos in your life. Just relax. This is probably the hardest part of being healthy because you have to teach yourself to do it. Yet it is important, because it’s so easy to let our minds run with worries, and not allow it the opportunity to rest and reset itself.

 So if you find yourself bored and sitting around a lot, and you don’t want to miss that dance with your granddaughter at her wedding; I encourage you to reconsider your lifestyle and your goals. You can beat boredom – just ask yourself, “What do I want to do?” And do it. If you would like, come by and have a cup of coffee. Let us help you start Living Life on purpose!