10 more ways to help you stay young and feel vibrant.
The first time my wife (then girlfriend) and I celebrated my birthday together she gave me one of the sweetest and most poignant cards I’ve ever received. It read, “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?” She is over a decade younger than I am, so at first glance I thought this may have been a joke or some sarcasm about our age difference. Then after a closer look, I realized she opened the door for me to be what ever age I felt. It was incredibly freeing!
Warren Sanderson, a professor of social and behavioral studies at Stony Brook University is changing the way we look at age. He and Sergei Scherbov recently wrote The Characteristics Approach to the Measurement of Population Aging, which details other ways, besides the amount of days you’ve been alive, to measure your age.
Remaining life expectancy, disability rates, cognitive function and hand-grip strength are just a few ways they propose to quantify individual aging. We all know the difference in our aging relatives. Some of us have the aunt who is in her early 90’s and super active. She’s a bit eccentric, but we love her and hope to end up just as vibrant. We proudly share stories about her crazy antics to our friends. Then others have the uncle who looks like he’s been through three World Wars and rehab four times, smoking, with a beer gut and in his mid-60’s. Who’s going to live longer? Ruling out those rare exceptions, we all know the answer.
Some of us want to live forever, some of us will be happy if we make it to 80, but I would bet that none of us want to live without a decent quality of life. How are we going to get it? We have an opportunity every morning we get out of bed to stop, take a breath of fresh air and realize we’re lucky to be alive. Keep the attitude of gratitude, it always helps. Then it’s a matter of going through our day and validating our life with fresh eyes. Practicing the idea in Zen called ‘beginner’s mind.’ Seeing the world anew in every moment and everyday. You may have heard the phrase that you can never step in the same river twice. The water is always flowing and changing. In life, the moments are like the water of a river, they are always moving.
It’s so cliche to say “live in the moment” these days, but there really is nothing more true and vital way to staying young and vibrant. When you look at the world with amazement as if you’re seeing it for the first time, because the truth is, you are. You’ve never been in this moment, taking this breath, with those surroundings before, ever! No experience can happen twice because your cells are different, you have more experience and hopefully more wisdom. Life is always changing and to live in awe of all the amazement keeps us young.
There will be tough times, but in those trials and tribulations, find the opportunity of growth. Train yourself to learn and grow from each experience and you will find a deeper, more profound state of inner peace. That’s the chance we have to stay young. Avoid holding on to all those stressful things in life that can slow us down. Use the following 10 things to help stay vibrant and feel young regardless of what the number says on your birthday cake.
1. Watch the sunrise. There is nothing like watching the world come to life.
2. Spend time in Nature. I find perfection in the way Mother Nature destroys and replenishes every season. Take in the wonder in that perfection.
3. Exercise. Getting your heart rate moving and your blood pumping will keep your body healthy.
4. Smell the fresh air. Like drinking a cold cup of water on a hot day, taking a deep breathe always feels refreshing.
5. Take up a new activity. There is nothing like being new at something and learning like a child.
6. Keep your brain active. Your brain is a muscle, make sure you use it. Play the piano or learn a new language.
7. Spend time with young people. They are in the thick of their youth and instead of wasting youth, hang with them and understand them. Let some of their carefree-ness rub off on you.
8. Get 8 hours of sleep. Your body will thank you.
9. Keep the Zen beginners mind. The wonder and amazement of this thing called life! Have gratitude for it, it won’t last forever.
10. Roll around on the floor and be a kid again. I dare you!
Photo Credit: flickr.com/TreyRatcliff