On My Mind: Not Rotting

Women Not Rotting

One of the things that becomes very clear to me on visits to the nursing home to see my mom:

• There are many more women than men around
• Most of these women are in wheelchairs or using walkers
• Many of these women will live 10+ years in that situation

So, of course, this has been wearing on my mind since I experienced one of those birthday markers that reminds you – no matter how good you feel – that you’re creeping on up there, sister.

I love the Universe and how it responds to what’s going on with me and the book that just happened to beat a path to my door was Younger Next Year for Women (there’s one for men, too) by Chris Crowley (a retired business executive who should have been a comedian) and Henry (but, he’s called “Harry”) S. Lodge, M.D.

I honestly believe this is one of those books that can change your life and should be on your must-read list – even if you aren’t anywhere near your golden years.  Why?  Well, one sentence caught my attention:  “You do have to age, but you don’t have to rot.”  Rot???  And, about that time, I had a flashback to the nursing home visit.  Many of the women there were not only aging, they were rotting.

In the book, Chris and Harry say that “50% of all illness and injuries in the last third of your life can be eliminated by changing your lifestyle… Not delayed until you are a little older… eliminated!”

Well, needless to say, they got my attention and I’ve been devouring the book, taking notes, making changes, and seriously ready to age with grace.  I even got a heart rate monitor to help me stay in my zones when I exercise.  My husband calls it another gadget.  I call it my coach.

I’m not through talking about this book with you because there are several things  – besides exercise and eating – that keep you feeling great.  Things that I knew were important all along and am thrilled to know they are part of the formula.

So, here I go with the challenge…. feeling younger by next year at this time.  Yep, I know I’ll be a year older, but I’m planning on feeling much better because according to Chris and Harry, smart women don’t grow older.  They grow younger.  Whee haw!