The final frontier of aging vibrantly we gerontologists look at is the metaphorical landscape of the
heart and the world of the emotions. Having a positive attitude will go far toward slowing down, and even
reversing the aging clock. If you’re happy in your life, you definitely will be
invited to more pot-luck dinners and be more in demand to make up a fourth for bridge.
To add to those enticing ideas, research finds positive attitudes help protect us against all kinds
of diseases, or if diseases do find us, having an optimistic attitude to life is almost
effective as drugs in helping our bodies heal. Like bananas and chocolate,
being grateful, together with a
positive attitude, gives our
immune systems an extra sweet boost. 
Look around you.
Grateful people look so much younger, too.
The result of looking at the pilsner as more full than empty? A greater sense of contentment,
and allowing ourselves to let go of regrets scores
as two important values held by those
interviewed seniors.
These, along with forgiving one’s self and others
and maintaining
spirituality or a practice of a formal religion
fills the glass to overflowing.
The Mayo Clinic Proceedings
found this trifecta of behaviors produces better health outcomes as well.
Together with being content and having a willingness to forgive and forget,
people whose daily lives include a form of spirituality literally live longer. They have less
cardiovascular disease
(not so “hard-hearted”), hypertension, and lower blood pressure. Not only do these folks
spend fewer days in acute care hospitalization, they actually clock fewer hospitalizations overall. To
pile on even more good news,
these seniors exercise more, eat better, smoke less, use their seat belts, and get preventative health screenings.
These habits reflect a high level of self-care,
which contributes to radiating vibrancy.
Also, spiritual seniors show more resilience in dealing
with life’s toughest curve balls.
Research confirms these super seniors have a high level of emotional well-being.
Many of them possess a greater sense of purpose for their lives as they get older--
another of the chart-topping attributes the seniors mentioned in their interviews.
This tenacity remains, even if they
experience physical or mental decline.
Holding on to a sense of purpose as we age often
furthers our feelings of altruism.
While perhaps not a direct A to B connection, these overall feelings of self-worth
and the need to give back definitely add to vibrant aging.
Until next time….Be Vibrant!
