It Has Nothing to Do with Age

"Great minds have purposes, little minds have wishes."
– Washington Irving

 

Thursday was a blast interviewing the lovely Tevis and Haggin Cup winner Cathy Rohm. Not only was she perky, she was also a fun loving spirit. Cathy talked about her successes as well as her losses. She was divorced, lost a  younger  alcoholic  brother and a supportive mother within a few years. This mentally tough, young lady openly discussed her difficulty in coping and working through her grief. Be sure to  catch  her  TV  interview with Tony and me. http://youtu.be/2lhgMEn7ltw

What is wrong with people in United States? Didn’t somebody coin, the Golden Years? I’m going to re-name the Golden Years and call them the “Disability Years .” All right, it’s a fact that since 1990, the longevity rate the United States has increased from 75.2 years to 78.2 years. However, don’t start applauding just yet. Even though we are making headway against issues of strokes, certain cancers and the HIV virus; the death rate associated with obesity, diabetes, kidney disease and Alzheimer’s are on the rise. So you may say, so what.

The amount of expenditures or the healthcare outlay in the United States totals nearly 18% of the gross domestic  product(GDP). Not only that,  but the number of years of living with chronic disability or the loss of quality of life for the average American increased. This means that in 1990 , the average life expectancy in the US, of an individual would live about 9.4 years with disability. In 2010, even though life expectancy rose so did years with disability. You can now expect to live 10.1 years with disability. In other words, even though your living longer, you are potentially living longer with a chronic disability.

People, can’t you get it  ? What don’t you understand? Can’t you employ self-discipline, good judgment, or do you have to self-destruct? Simply put, by making and continuing lifestyle changes, much of our health problem could be alleviated. Don’t you know that a better diet, smaller food portions, physical activity, quitting smoking and better management of stress are the keys?

We have a variety of diets, numerous apps, and many opportunities for physical exercise. How many of you can stick with the program? Unfortunately, your self-destruction affects us all.

Tony and I must be freaks. Today, the 12^th, he’s doing speed work at the track in Auburn. For me, I ran the trails for about two and half hours , running up and down hills. There must be something wrong with us (Tony’s 61 and I’m 73) since we are healthy. I’m enjoying my golden years, how about you? Source: the Wall Street Journal, July 11, 2013.

For next Thursday’s TV show, Tony and I are going to interview Merv Pyorre.  I’ll bet you’ll enjoy his story. In the meantime, keep moving, laughing, smiling and deep breathing.