How do we maintain our spirit in challenging times?

I have learned from working with thousands of older people that there is nothing more tenacious and inspiring than the human spirit. People over 65 years, and especially those individuals over 85 years, are survivors. Many have overcome odds which seemed insurmountable but they achieved great success throughout their long lives.

Success is relative especially in these times when young people barely out of their teens become millionaires in business startups and older people who have worked for most of their lives, now find themselves on a fixed income. In Gerontology, we rate success in older years around issues related to overall health, function and connection to others.

It is incredible to me that I have worked with dozens of older people who have reached their ninth decade (their 80's) without any major life trauma. Their lives are still very much intact; they are still married and celebrating their fiftieth or sixtieth anniversary, their children have grandchildren and every generation is healthy and functioning, they have enough income to live on and they are still active in their communities. This is absolutely incredible. These people prove that our society has reached a kind of "Shangri-la" with successful aging. Of course, not everyone reaches this state but the fact that some do is totally uplifting.

How can we learn from these individuals? My students often ask me for some formula for successful aging. I tell them that I wish it were some big secret that I could then turn around and market and make a fortune from. Maybe it would involve some complex combination of herbs and vitamins or a regime of intense exercises with a dose of psychological interventions. Alas, it's not like that. The formula for successful aging, based on individuals described above involves these simple elements:

1. Don't smoke.
2. Eat healthy food.
3. Do moderate exercise.
4. Keep your weight at a modest level.
5. Get an annual check-up.
6. Stay connected to your community.
7. Achieve good self-esteem.
8. Heal your family troubles.
9. Voice your opinions.
10. Love life.

Aging Well Tomorrow Requires Living Well Today