Aging And Longevity

AGING AND LONGEVITY

Eileen Renders 

Autonomy – definition; self-governing, independence, free will

   It is fair to say that we all desire to live a long, productive, and healthy life. Realistically, however, our inner desires have little to do with achieving our goals. Some of us are born with genetic disabilities that may prevent us from achieving our goals. Others relinquish all power of effort to fate, as though we cannot influence our state of health. Unfortunately, some of us do not realize how our lack of discipline plays a role in not achieving, or maintaining a state of optimum health.

   It sort of reminds us of that old German saying; “We get too soon old, and too late schmart.” The percentage of overweight and obesity in this county is astounding. In 2020, the CDC said 41.9 percent of adults were obese, and severe obesity is climbing. Yet obesity can directly increase one’s risk of certain diseases including; diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancer, and more!

  Due to this type of unhealthy eating and lifestyle habits, this disease is being passed down from generation to generation. Back in the day, as children we were outside playing tag, jumping rope, skating, walking, and more. Today, many children follow their parents' lifestyle and sit with a cell phone or on a computer.

   Also, unless mom baked once a week, no sweet treats were lying around for kids to snack on. We learned to grab an apple, or a banana and out the door.  Refrigeration was often an ice box, and freezers were not common. But then, this is why there was not much food available that was highly processed. Purchasing a meal one day at a time was not unusual. In the early 50s, not everyone owned a car, therefore, children owned the Streets, it was their playground.

   Lifestyles have changed immensely and can be seen as a contributing cause of specific diseases in today’s world. For example, when I was a child, Frankenstein movies depicting a man who received many donor parts were pure fiction, and scary, going to the Moon was fantasy, and Dick Tracey wristwatches that could do multiple tasks were hilarious. But that was yesteryear, kids were skinny athletes, and this is today.

   God was on Earth for a short time, just thirty-three years. During that time, He showed us how to live healthy, clean lives by faith and by using our free will wisely. Jesus walked, no car, no bicycle. Everything I have read depicts Him eating fish they caught, berries, fruits from the trees, cheese, hearth-baked bread, water, and some adults had an occasional glass of wine.

   If there is a lesson to be learned here, I would say that if we follow Jesus with our choices, we would do well both in this world and in the next!