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The Voice of Experience: Choices and attitude affect the way we grow older

Negative attitudes always lead to unhappiness with ourselves and with others. Positivity is truly the answer...

“Old age is not for sissies,” said Art Linkletter, and I agree! However, I also agree with him that we have choices — lots of them!

For instance, one of the major issues that we face is nutrition. We don’t eat as much as we used to, so we may require supplementation. The frequently heard comment, “You don’t need supplements, you get all you need from food,” is all well and good, but as I see it, less food means less nutrition. Eating healthy foods may not be enough. Often, drugs are included in the overall management of our health, and drugs can affect appetite and the way we use nutrients in the food we eat. It’s a choice that the individual needs to make.

Drugs are often taken for pain, but may cause some nasty side effects. Take a look at the alternatives in natural healing — herbal tinctures can at times be just as effective. We have two excellent health food stores in Creston, as well as Tilia Botanicals, which will soon be open for business. Sometimes, milder drugs can be used together with more natural options. Your choice! But check with both the pharmacist and the natural healing practitioner to make sure of computability.

We tend to “slow down” and quit exercising. Gardening becomes too big a chore, and it’s much easier to sit down with a good book or watch TV. Leg exercises can be done by sitting down, as can those for the neck and arms. Easy yoga, Tai Chi aimed at seniors (try the program at the Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors) or any other type of exercise will help keep the body muscles in better tone so they don’t hurt so much!

One of the less pleasant effects of aging is bladder leakage. Embarrassed? Well, look around and see other people with grey hair and consider that many of them are in the same boat. So we have to resort to some pads. So what! Check out the pharmacies and grocery stores — you may be amazed at the selection. And the number of others who are buying light or heavy protection. (I speak from personal experience.)

Memory. There are days when we are not sure where it went! Again, know that the rest of us “elderly” people have trouble with recalling what is in our memory banks. Embarrassment, frustration or anger don’t help one little bit. In fact, those negative reactions to forgetting just make the situation worse. Try to accept the act that it really doesn't matter if we have to take more time for recall. And if the memory still doesn't surface, oh well! We can choose to get upset or simply accept it.

Negative attitudes always lead to unhappiness with ourselves and with others. Positivity is truly the answer, even when we don’t really feel like being positive. I’ve often been told that I don’t look 81 years old or that I don’t dress for my age or that I don’t act like an 81-year-old. Why must I look or act older than I feel? I wear the clothes that are comfortable for me. I am fortunate to have inherited genes that make me look younger than my years. And everyone knows I have attitude.

That’s what it all comes down to: choices and attitude. Accept what is happening, and keep living to the very end. Let’s not be sissies!

Mary Underhill is a stress therapist and grief counsellor. The Voice of Experience is a column co-ordinated by the Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors.