What's Age Got To Do With It?
- Written by J.J.
What's age got to do with it? Everything. As a whole, those of us over 65 are using our later years to continue working and improve our communities. Presidents Biden and Trump rank #1 and #2 as oldest to ever win the presidency. Roughly 1/2 of congress is over 65 years of age. Our cohort is most likely to vote, least likely to not vote, and wealthier than younger generations. For better or worse only 24% of us intend to retire at 65 according to a Transamerica study. In other words, the country is politically and economically controlled by those of us over 65 and the future is in our hands.
What's age got to do with it? Nothing. Physical barriers are falling and boomers are redefining what it means to age. Healthier habits, exercise, and a stronger understanding of how to care for our bodies have contributed to greater vitality in later years. That energy is allowing us to explore our power and interests after raising a family or ending a career. Some coin the time between mid-life and very old age as gerontolescence. That term captures the energy that is often released when we face our mortality and have experience we want to share with the world or personal goals that we'd like to realize before it's too late. Another term is gerotranscendence. In a previous blog about the concept I quote Loretta Brewer of the Arkansas Geriatric Education center who explains that, "we can experience a breakthrough after 65 on how we view ourselves and our world that allows us to transcend our limitations and circumstances." Regardless what we call it good health and good fortune enable us to experience rich personal years after 65 and they fortify us with time and energy to make our world a better place.
Chronic Loneliness Can Invite Chronic Disease
- Written by J.J.
I recently listened to a friend of mine explain how she was fighting a medical diagnosis of Depression. "I'm not depressed," she insisted, "I'm lonely!" Her fight will resonate with three of five Americans who reported experiencing loneliness even before Covid isolationism spread across our country. Chronic Loneliness isn't medically treatable but can trigger serious health conditions that require medical attention. One in three older Americans live alone and are disproportionately impacted by the mental and physical effects of loneliness. Are you lonely or know someone who is?
Finding Opportunity in Change
- Written by J.J.
It's natural to feel discouraged, worried, fearful or overcome by change. When we experience changing circumstances in our personal lives while we try to cope with an outer world of change and transition seeing anything clearly can be difficult. Yet, one of the best ways to avoid the harmful stress often triggered by change is to look for the opportunities it brings. If you've just suffered a loss or trauma it may be too soon to see with objectivity yet a time may come when letting go of today's re-orientation will point to opportunities in tomorrow. Sourcing for opportunity is a skill anyone can develop. If you're ready for some techniques to strengthen your resilience and find opportunity please read on.
Will DNA Tests Guide Us To Optimal Health?
- Written by J.J.
You've probably heard of 23&me or seen the Ancestry ads about surprising DNA analyses. What we're learning from DNA testing broadens our self knowledge and is propelling the nascent science of Nutrigenomics. Nutrigenomics doesn't evaluate ancestry yet it's results can be similarly surprising. Nutrigenomics studies DNA to reveal how food influences our gene expressions and how genetic variations may dictate our individual reaction to certain foods. One size, it turns out, doesn't fit all in nutritional recommendations. In fact, it's not so much that we are what we eat. Who we become is more influenced by how we eat.