From Amanda's very early writing (1990s to early 2000s), shared as it was originally written.
Youth - Part 2!
Last month I turned the big 40! I can hear the gasps out there amongst my loyal readers who obviously are astonished. No doubt you thought I was at least 60 from that itty bitty (and horrible) picture of me!
Anyway, I had a great time at my party and received many wonderful cards - one of which prompted me to write this article. On the front of the card it says 'Turning 40? Don't think of it as old age' and when you open the card it says 'think of it as YOUTH PART 2!
What a great concept! On my walk this morning , I decided I was under half opf the way through my life - I am going to live until 90 at least. And I'm going to be really fit and have a great body! At 45 I'm off to circuit training so I can build up strength and tone of my muscles. I'm going ot mentally exercise five times a week as well.
The old conceopt of physical flexibility and mental flexibility being linked is gaining scientific evidence.
u The old conce mental flexibility being linked to maintaining youthfullness is true. More and more studies are demonstrating the beneficial effects of both mental AND physical training for everyone and especially for oldies - you know the 40'ies and up like me!
I was listening to an audio tape yesterday from a program designed to improve communication skills. Half way through the speaker asked questions that are 'brain teasers' from Mensa - the organization for really smart people. It was very depressing initially! I couldn't even understand the question let alone answer it! Yet after the first 30 or 40 questions I started to get the hang of it! and a couple of questons were even easy! The purpose of doing this on the tape was to demonstrate how we can train our brains to think in different ways; or to view issues from a different perspective; to to be more creative , in general to stay interesting and alert.
So, youth , part two. I'm in much better shape than I was when I was in youth , part 1. I may not look quite as young as I did then, but my brain is different! I'm a little wiser (not much!) and I have a different perspective on things. I'm more self assured , more certin in my career and know better what i want our of life.astonished s. middle, I decided I was under half o of my muscles. I'm going toyouthfulnessquestions
I used to think the phrase 'life begins at forty', was invented by desperates who had gone over the hill! But..as I reflect on what I am like now compared to 20 years ago... more self assured , more confident and know better what I want out Well, for today anyway!
I've had more experiences and am becoming more accepting of me - and knowing who 'me' is. I'm better at understanding my needs; more adept at expressing them and learning how to share my feelings - without hysterical tears! Am I completely nuts (dare I say senile?) or is this striking a chord for some of you alert readers out there?
A couple of weeks ago I went out to a movie with a friend of mine and as we were walking down the street I yelled "race you to the end of the street!" and we took off! And laughed hysterically as we chased each other 200 metres. OK, 15 metres then.
Gee, it was fun. And immature no doubt some of you are thinking! I realized afterwards how lucky I was to find another person my age who had not yet grown too old to play and do silly things. You should have seen the 'old fuddy duddys of 16 and 17' shaking their heads in pity for us!
So , what about you? Do you play enough in your life? Do you do things that were great fun for you in 'Youth part 1? Do you tell yourself you should be mature and a fuddy duddy? Must you maintain a serious and sober outlook on life? Is it OK to go and play in the rain? Run or skip down the street? Laugh out loud in public - by yourself? Be overtly silly - in public? Are you 40 + and in middle age? Or are you in Youth - part 2 - and preparing yourself for Youth - part 3? I'm not growing up yet - I'm wiser, I'm more mature, but I'm not growing up!not even mentally alert, (Like my 85 year old friend Blanch). - new research shows that muscle strength assists in living longer
How we think has an enormous impact on the way we live our lives and our physical status. A study conducted by professor Ellen Langer at Harvard in America gathered a number of 75 year old men and took them off to an isolated setting built to duplicate daily life as it existed 20 years ago. Magazines and radio programs were from 1959; they could only discuss issues, politics and celebrities from that era. Each person was encouraged to focus on how he thought , looked, talked and acted when he was twenty years younger.
The group had to speak in present tense as if 1959 were today and references to family, friends and jobs could not go beyond that year. they were introduced to each other with 20 year old photos. The control group talked about the events of 1959 but used past tense instead of present; 1979 music was played; magazines covered present day topics and films were current releases.
Measurements of aging were taken and the findings were as followed: in the study group memory and manual dexterity improved; they were more active and self sufficient; they looked younger, fingers actually lengthened and became more flexible; had a stronger grip; they sat taller in their chairs. There are a number of reasons behind these changes , Professor Langer suggests , such as not seeing others grow old seems to prevent us growing old. And giving people more control over their lives keeps them behaving in more youthful ways. In other words , how we think may have a dramatic impact on the aging of our bodies and minds. still thinks 'young' andatDo you think young? Do you see yourself as old and mature? the and at front of others
