Contributed by Anna Altair
Like many of my peers and those younger than 70, I plan to live well beyond my 80th year. That doesn't sound very old to me today. I have a large number of friends happily maturing into their 80s while maintaining an exuberant lifestyle. They dance, read books, keep up with their book clubs, play cards, take classes, learn oil painting, some even jump on trampolines.
The most important aspect of these retiring years is to stay involved with your own life. This is the time to put that ‘bucket list’ together and evaluate what you have done and seen, and what you might still want to accomplish. I remember being at a local tavern when I first moved to Alaska, and a gentleman was there celebrating his 80th birthday. It was July and he had taken himself skydiving that afternoon to highlight his day.
I remember my parents thinking that the 60s were too old for our lawmakers. This presidential elections - all of them were near 70. Another of my friends proclaimed, "I am not working a day over my 90 years!" At first I thought it was a joke, but if we are true to ourselves - "love what you do, and do what you love" - why stop? I might be one of those.
A few helpful ways to keep in the flow of life that have benefited many of my patients are listed below. My hope is that some of them help you and increase your vitality and quality of living, as we move into 2017.
1. Eat more fruit. Fruits cleanse and replenish the body.
2. Eat that fruit alone. It digests fast and if it has to hang around for the protein, it (the fruit) will ferment. This causes more gastric problems.
3. Walk. Outside is best. Breathe deep and swing your arms.
4. Cross Crawl Exercise. This can be done lying on your back, sitting or standing. Slap your opposite knee with your hand R/L, L/R. This fires both sides of the brain and is a good refresher during the day. Do cross crawls often.
5. Tap on your thymus gland. It is under your breastbone just below the notch at your neck.
6. Stand up, stretch, take 3 deep breaths and exhale fully. It will clear a foggy head.
7. Quiet your mind for 3-5 minutes a day.
8. Eat half as much as you did when you were in your 40s and 50s.
9. Review your gratitude each day for the special life you are carving out day by day.
May your holidays be merry and 2017 bright in every way!
Dr. Anna Altair is a chiropractic physician with her office on the Pal/Was Hwy in the Regan Building. Her focus is childhood scoliosis and closed head injuries. She has practiced in the Mat-Su Valley since 2004. 907-357-1818
