AGING GRACEFULLY WITH A POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE

by Mary Frances Hansen

One of my very favorite quotes is by Mark Twain...“Age is mind over matter; if you don't mind it doesn't matter.” As we age, unfortunately, our parts start wearing out just like an old car! We can't do anything about the normal aging process that takes place in our bodies as we age, but we can do something about our attitudes to slow it down. Why not have a positive attitude about aging instead of a negative one?

As we grow older, we can still remain young and vigorous in spirit, keeping a purpose in our lives and

keep setting goals for ourselves. I don't think any of us really wants to grow old, but since aging is inevitable, we must look at the positive side of aging. We must strive to have the best positive mental attitudes we can have.

Our minds are so powerful and play such an important role as our bodies age. I know we would all like to find that fountain of youth and stay forever young... but unfortunately, that fountain of youth does not exist. As George Burns once said...“We are growing older, but we don't have to get old!” We need to dispel the myths about aging and change our attitudes and our perspectives on what aging is.

We have three ages. Our first age is our Chronological Age. This age is how many birthdays we have had and how old we are by our calendar years. Each age is so important to our emotional, spiritual, and intellectual growth. I feel each age has its own purpose, and every age has its own opportunities for learning.

Our second age is our Biological Age. This age is the condition our body is in and how old our body feels. We can change this age by our lifestyle through exercise, proper nutrition, keeping our minds active, staying connected to people, and having purpose in our lives with a positive mental attitude.

Our third age is our Psychological Age. This age is how old we think we are, and this age affects our

biological age. I just celebrated my 89th birthday in November, and to me, AGE is only a number, and my mind still thinks I am very young. Quote from the Bible... Proverbs 23:7 “ As a man thinketh in his heart so is he!” You are what you think!!!!! God has blessed me with lots of energy, a very positive mental attitude, and I am very young in spirit. I have some age-related health issues , but I dwell on my positives and not my negatives. I refuse to become a Victim because I am a Victor!

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said... ”A man is what he thinks all day.” I really believe you are what you think. There are two kinds of thinkers...You are either a positive thinker or a negative thinker. Studies at Mayo Clinic prove that, as a general rule, pessimistic people are negative thinkers and will have a lower immune system, and they are not as healthy physically or mentally, and may not live as long because of their negative attitudes. On the other hand, optimistic people are positive thinkers and have healthier immune systems, and they are healthier physically and mentally. They will recover much faster because of their positive attitudes. I am a former ICU nurse, and I can tell you from experience...the patients who have a positive attitude recovered much faster.

If I can leave you with only one thought out of this entire article, it is the idea that you can change your thinking if you have a positive attitude. I would like to close by saying...Age is an attitude and is only a number. We are Chronologically Gifted! If you look up gifted in the dictionary, you will find synonyms like talented, accomplished, brilliant, and skilled. WOW... we are all aging and ever so gifted.

You have a choice about how you are going to live the rest of your life. You can change your thinking and either be positive or negative. You can choose joy over sadness, or you can choose to be a Victim or a Victor. The choice is yours. Stay strong, Stay safe, and Keep the faith!!!!