Cultivating Your Health Span
CULTIVATING YOUR HEALTH SPAN IS EASIER THAN EVER
BY ARDITH BOWMAN MARCH 05, 2023 HEALTH AND FITNESS Sixtyandme.com
I have some wonderful news. It is good for us to focus on the positive when we can.
Do you know that the life areas that bring you happiness, like good relationships, are the very same ones that contribute to your “health span”? Plus, you can begin any time to enhance your happiness and make a difference in the long-term vitality of your life. The earlier the better, of course, and you can make an impact for yourself in your 70s, 80s and beyond. So, let me explain.
What Is Health Span?
In December I attended the Century Summit hosted by The Stanford Center on Longevity and the Longevity Project. In the last few years, there is increasing attention to the fact that we are living longer, for the most part, in developed nations.
This impacts our society on several levels, from health care to the workplace, to how older adults are...
Navigating the Threshold into our 60's
NAVIGATING THE THRESHOLD INTO OUR 60S AND BEYOND
BY ARDITH BOWMAN JANUARY 05, 2023 LIFESTYLE www.sixtyandme.com
Research about our phase of life increasingly views the 60s and 70s as entering an entirely new stage of life, much like adolescence to adulthood is a stage transition. This certainly contrasts with the view of these years being the end of our societal influence and participation because we have reached the final step of the 20th century “learn, earn, retire” view of life.
But what does this shift to a stage transition perspective really mean for our understanding of this phase of life?
No Precedence
A century ago, by your 70s – if you were still alive – you probably would be experiencing or expecting decline. After all, the life expectancy for a woman in the US was around 55 years. So, being 60 and beyond was a bit of a waiting game. Not so now!
In fact, I just read an article urging universities to expand life-long learning...
Work Hard - Retire Hard
This was first published in Sixty and Me at
https://sixtyandme.com/work-hard-retire-hard/ DECEMBER 06, 2022 LIFESTYLE
Remember, this is about embracing YOUR purpose and sense of satisfaction with life.
Many of us grew up in an era where the accepted approach to life was to work really hard to be successful at our chosen role and take care of responsibilities. Then, like magic, at 65 we get to stop and make up for all the “fun” we put off and take the relaxation we deserve. My parents did that, but it really didn’t turn out as they imagined. I thought that is what I was going to do. Not anymore.
Let’s unpack this.
The World Has Changed
In western cultures we are living longer and retiring earlier than in the past. If we stop working at 65, we are likely to have a reasonably healthy 20-30 years to go! That is why we call this the third phase of life… it literally can be 1/3 of your life.
Is kicking back with the...
True Comfort
WHAT IS THE TRUE MEANING OF COMFORT?
One of the blessings for many of us in our 60s and beyond is living a comfortable life. This does not imply riches. It means we have found a way to have ‘enough’. We have given our time to our work/profession and family. Now is our time to relax and enjoy life. We want to enjoy our comfort. We deserve to enjoy comfort.
Still, for many women there can be a yearning or dissatisfaction lurking just under the surface.
The Lure of Comfort
Now that I have married my love, I feel full. Recently, I have faced my own complacency...
Speranza-certezza
WHAT IS SPERANZA-CERTEZZA AND HOW TO LIVE WITH IT?
Italians use the term speranza-certezza, offering an expansion to how we might use only the word hope, or perhaps intention or faith. It means to hold hope and certainty at the same time. Think about it… this is a powerful pairing of ideas that transforms a wish into creation.
I learned about this term from a wonderful Italian artist, Barbara Sbrocca, who interviewed me for her love and separations project, Baci Sospesi. She said that I had speranza-certezza when I decided for love in my life.
Barbara uses the interviews to inform her art and to provide input for anyone researching or exploring love in their life, work or creativity. Have fun exploring!
Have you ever hoped to become more fit or to learn a new skill? Maybe you hope to fall in love, as I did for so many years. The difference in...
Your Gratitude Tree
FIND YOUR GRATITUDE TREE
We all know that feeling grateful feels good. Right? It is more than that! We care about aging well, with vitality and wellness. Well, gratitude can play a big part in that.
According to Positive Psychology, research shows that benefits of gratitude for us include:
- increased happiness and positive mood
- more satisfaction with life
- less materialism
- less likely to experience burnout
- better physical health
- better sleep
- less fatigue
- lower levels of cellular inflammation
- greater resiliency
- encourages the development of patience, humility, and wisdom
How can you make gratitude a part of your life?
Gratitude as an Everyday Practice
I am sure you have read about keeping a gratitude journal. It is a wonderful and beneficial practice. If you are anything like me, the consistent journaling will last less than a week! So, what can we do to make gratitude a part of our everyday life?
Eckhart Tolle says...
Embracing Change
EMBRACING CHANGE AS A WOMAN OVER 70
Change, even if creating something you truly desire, can be challenging. Why in the world would anyone, especially when in your 70s, choose to go through change? Well, growing and learning are a type of change; growing and learning are essential for well-being and longevity.
Feelings of vitality, of aliveness, arise from embracing change. The real question is why in the world would someone in the seventh decade of life (and beyond) NOT choose change?
Change can happen to us and around us – health issues, someone dying, kids moving, etc. These are the kinds of change that are a natural part of life’s ebb and flow. We are called on to accept what is and to care for ourselves as we navigate them.
Then, there is change that you decide for. Reflecting on what we want, we may feel resolve, hope, desire, and often have a vision. You might decide to get more...
The Galapagos - Still a Love Story!
THE GALAPAGOS: MY LOVE ADVENTURE
The Galapagos trip turned out to be the consummation of the Love Story article series I wrote for Sixty and Me, which covered self-love, love for friends, and mature love.
This article will describe a little about the adventure as well as the Valentine’s marriage proposal.
Spoiler alert: I said “Yes.”
Getting There
It was a long day! I flew from the west coast in the US. Most flights connect through Panama, a delightful airport. Then it is on to Guayaquil, Ecuador. If you make the same trip, I recommend spending a day there if you can. It is the largest city in Ecuador. Enjoy walking the Malecon along the Guayas River and find a good place to eat. You will enjoy the street performers and Ecuadorian people.
Then on to the Galapagos, usually using LATAM airlines. It is a two-hour flight.
The...
Your Love Story - Mature Love
YOUR LOVE STORY – MATURE LOVE
Finally, we arrive at truly intimate committed love as the third area of bringing love into your life. Our journey to expand and deepen love in life has taken us from self-love to heart-based friendships. Now we will consider committed, intimate relationships.
Notice that in the below exploration of committed intimacy, does not need to include romance. These healthy, deep relationships can exist without a romantic aspect. Still, if you are looking for romance, certainly committed intimacy should be expressed in the love you are seeking.
If you are in an established relationship, consider what it might mean to deepen it and fall in love all over again.
What Is an Intimate Committed Relationship?
Intimacy implies that you, as a mate/lover/companion, are truly authentic and vulnerable with your partner; your...
Be a Friend
YOUR LOVE STORY – BE A FRIEND
This is the second of three articles to help us create more love in life. A life filled with love vibes will help keep you healthy and happy. Spread the love.
We are all familiar with the adage, “If you want a friend, be a friend.” I am living proof that it is true! The second step I took on my journey into love was to mindfully nurture and expand my circle of woman-friends. Remember, this is after spending time learning to love me… the real me.
Since the last article about the value of self-love, you have tuned into loving yourself. Hopefully, you have found some ways for your self-love to flourish. Know that others recognize the energy of self-love and that it is attractive. Others are drawn to it. With it you are more available for friendship.
What Is the State of Your Friend Love?
If you are anything like me when...
