12 Tips for Healthy Aging––Parkview

12 Tips for Healthy Aging

By Shirley Long

  1. Smile. It makes people wonder what you are up to! Seriously, you can’t feel bad when you have a smile on your face. It changes your whole countenance. And a smile is contagious.
  2. Keep only cheerful friends. Have you noticed how frustrated and depressed you feel after talking with someone who complains all the time? The grouches pull you down. Stay away from them. (I often refer to them as “emotional vampires” because they suck the joy out of you!)
  3. Laugh loud and often. Laugh until you gasp for breathe; it is a great way to get oxygen into your lungs. And you feel so good emotionally after a good laugh.
  4. Be ALIVE while you are alive. Tears happen. Grieve…it is an important part of the healing process, but you have to move on. The only person who is with us our entire life is ourselves. This may sound harsh, but carrying grief or any other emotional trauma without coming to terms with it only results in depression.
  5. Surround yourself with lots of love. Your home is your castle and your refuge. The things that bring you pleasure should be near you, whether it’s friends, family, music, hobbies, keepsakes, pets, plants, or whatever brings you joy and comfort.
  6. Enjoy the simple things. Sometimes we just make life too complicated.
  7. Cherish your health: If it is good, maintain it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get professional assistance.
  8. Tell those you love that you love them. Take advantage of every opportunity.
  9. Never stop learning. Learn more about gardening, crafts, technology, the computer…whatever. Just don’t let the brain be idle. “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” (And the devil’s name is dementia.)
  10. Keep moving. Inactivity allows the body to weaken and grow frail. The saying, “Use it, or lose it,” is so very true.
  11. Give. Remember, you can’t take it with you. Give joyfully and often…it does your heart good! Give your time. Usually giving yourself is more meaningful than giving money or things…even though any form of giving is greatly appreciated by those on the receiving end.
  12. Believe and have faith. Faith gives you courage to face trauma, grief and other burdens you will face at some point during your life. Faith also gives you purpose. Develop a personal relationship with God and live your life so that it brings joy and meaning to others. You will reap many blessings in return.

To learn more about independent senior living, contact Shirley Long, marketing manager at Parkview in Frisco. She can be reached at 972-377-6744. You may also visit their website at parkviewinfrisco.com.