Written by:
AARON SORVIG PT, DPT, Cert MDT
Aaron can be reached at aaron@apexptwellness.com
Despite the demands of their jobs and their family, however, they made it a priority to maintain those ever-important social connections that are so crucial to our psychological wellbeing. Through their church and other types of service organizations, they were active participants helping to foster a sense of community and giving. It is safe to say that we all feel better when we serve others and I think that it is a critical part of aging gracefully.
My grandparents also made it a point to find time for ‘rest,’ dedicating Sunday as a day to simply decompress, even with the daily demands that come with living on a farm. Speaking for my wife and I, and I think that most of you would agree, our weekends are often packed with more activities than our work and school week is. With some self-reflection, I’ve come to acknowledge that our busy schedules are no one’s fault but our own. We choose our own busyness!
With the advancement of technology and new innovations, our lives have become less labor-intensive and more sedentary. As a result, in stark contrast to my grandparents, I must make time to exercise and find ways to elevate my heart rate on a regular basis, something that was basically built into their everyday life.
Lastly, aging gracefully is not possible without considering what we eat. My grandparents shopped the perimeter of the grocery store, eating non-processed food, without ever leaving their farm. That was done out of necessity as opposed to opportunity, but the availability of fresh food and produce is more prevalent now than ever.
As I think about how I can better my chances of aging gracefully, I’ve come to realize that I don’t have to overanalyze the situation or look that hard to find some answers. My grandparents, as well as many of yours, were living examples of how to age gracefully. They were a generation that lived through economic prosperity, world wars, profound social turmoil, and rapid technological advancement but those changes were seemingly always met with grace.
Why would we expect anything less from individuals who were a part of ‘The Greatest Generation.’
AARON SORVIG PT, DPT, Cert MDT
Aaron can be reached at aaron@apexptwellness.com
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