Growing Old Gracefully

It is a divine blessing to have your parents reach the 90s. Even more when both of them are still strong and healthy!

My father-in-law is 92, going 93. And he walks without a cane, does some form of T’ai Chi every morning, shows mostly normal results in his blood chemistry tests, and can remember to send bday cards to everyone in the family, down to the youngest grandchild.

My mother-in-law just turned 90 as well and she can exchange witty repartee with you. She uses a walker due to a bad fall some years back but otherwise, her physical and mental state are very good.

It makes me wonder how one can somehow influence Mother Nature and have a greater chance of reaching such ripe, old ages. Off the top of my head, I can think of a few possibilities:

1. NO MANILA POLLUTION!!!!

2. Eating lots of organically grown fruits and vegetables, less meat, more fish

3. Daily exercise

4. Stress-free lifestyle

5. Good genes (unfortunately, this one is God-given and beyond our control)

But I guess when one is surrounded by the people you love and who love you back, this becomes an even more important factor in wanting to live longer.

We celebrated my parents-in law’s 50th Wedding Anniversary 9 years ago. How many couples can lay claim to having reached this milestone in their married lives? Next December (2007), God willing, they will still both be around to see their 60th anniversary celebrated. That will truly be another joyous event that will bring together everyone they touched during their life as a couple.

It is wonderful to grow old GRACEFULLY, to grow old TOGETHER, to watch your family grow, to see your children in your grandchildren’s faces….

Let me know what you think!