Recently I traveled to Illinois to celebrate my aunt’s 95th birthday. It was a wonderful time to reminisce, hear old family stories, and honor a life well-lived. The good news is she has a clear mind, does laps on her apartment building floor using a walker, and has kept her great sense of humor.
She built and ran a wonderful preschool as well as took care of family members over the years. And now, she lives with a group of seniors and the fun of having her fellow residents wish her a happy birthday was usually followed by their comments on what a kind, good person she has been.
Try This: Be Authentic!
The question that continued to plague me during my visit was what is the secret to longevity? It hit me that Aunt Jane's secret for living to a glorious old age is from being helpful, joyful and caring. In essence, an authentic individual. My idea is to focus on being authentic this week by using these questions from author and speaker, Natalie Ledwell,* when considering a new project:
- Why am I doing this?
- Is this really how I want to spend my energy?
- Is there a way to contribute that actually feels meaningful?
To age gracefully, it does mean making good decisions, so having a few key questions like these does bring peaceful direction. It will continue to be a great tool to help me be just like my Aunt Jane - happy, engaging and enjoying a long life!
* Natalie Ledwell, MindMovies.com