Monday, October 29, 2018
Monday, October 22, 2018
Secrets Worth Spilling
As I prowl the stacks of yet another library, I’m drawn to
sections, titles, and books I need to read: for this blog; for Book #2; and for
my workshops, presentations, and private coaching.
And, of course, for the sheer pleasure of learning something
new about this most interesting part of my own long life, “long” being key when
pulling certain books off the shelf. Like this one, for instance: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Secrets of
Longevity, by Kandeel Judge, M.D., Maxine Barish-Wreden, M.D., and Karen
Brees, Ph.D.
(Note to publisher: I think I’d have placed “Complete” in
front of “Guide,” not “Idiot’s.” Not sure one need be a complete idiot to benefit from the book’s contents.)
At first glance, I was a bit put off by the book’s cover: a
photo of a fit and smiling couple in their 40s, biking happily along some
beach, wearing sandals and other warm weather gear. On the man only is the
slightest hint of grey hair. These are clearly people at the very start of
their longevity journey who hope to learn the Secrets within. So’s they can better
peddle their way, I imagine, into their 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond.
As I am already well traveled on the longevity tour, I was curious
to see if perhaps I’d lived too long to benefit from the Secrets. I also wondered
if my own Secrets for making it into my 70s in any way resembled what the
Idiot’s Complete Guide had to offer.
And so the book’s Table of Contents: four parts and 21 chapters,
with the first three sections being all too familiar, containing all the
physical stuff we know we should be doing—should’ve
been doing all along: eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep, blah,
blah, and blah.
It was Part 4, though, that caught my attention: “Passion
for Life: The Ultimate Longevity Booster.” And no secret why that would be
true, especially with chapters on:
Meditation
and Relaxation
Writing Your
Way to Wellness
The Power
of Laughter
Health
Longevity, and Optimism
All-Encompassing
Gratitude
Creating
Your Own Life Story.
I’ve managed to spill a couple of those Secrets while hiking
the longevity trail: in this blog; in some of my published essays; and in my
first book. Book #2 will likely reinforce them while also featuring others.
Because, really, who wants to keep a good Secret to themselves?
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Life Disrupted, Lessons Learning
Anyone who’s been around long enough knows that life is not one
seamless, linear journey. Oh that it were so, but, as I heard many years ago:
we make plans, God laughs.
To which I say, Amen, no matter how we may define “God.” In
fact, maybe that laughing deity is just our own humbled selves as we age. We
look back on a life filled with unintended, often unwanted, disruptions, our
laugh more sardonic than good-humored.
These inevitable transitions usually include the sound of
doors closing, sometimes slamming. And while the doors that open often bring
good news, others do not. Instead, we come face-to-face with job loss;
financial distress; divorce; the death of loved ones; physical and emotional
challenges.
When this happens, even over the course of a long-lived life,
these losses and challenges often overwhelm us; we have a hard time seeing over
and through them, unable to imagine a better tomorrow. We hear that time heals
all wounds, but in the midst of a particular wounding, we’re not so sure.
Like most of my fellow agers, I’ve had my share of unwanted
disruptions, but, in truth, I was not prepared for them to continue
accumulating. I’d hoped that my Lessons
Learned column would remain in the past tense. Alas, now I know that we are never
done, that we are constantly learning lessons.
I write about one in particular in an essay recently published
in Notre Dame magazine. I’d like to
think it’s finally stuck. (And please note: I'd titled the essay “Living the
Prayer of St. Francis, ” which reflects what I sorely needed reminding of.)
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