When someone asks octogenarian William F. Buckley how he is, the usual reply is: “Decomposing - but other than that - fine.” The bad news is, he's right. We all start decomposing from the time we are born; cells are constantly dying to be replaced with new. As we age the process slows down, tissue cartilage and bone break down. The good news is that we can mitigate the process by diet, exercise and good health habits augmented by modern wonder drugs, vitamins and dietary supplements, thereby offsetting the grim reaper and extending our active lives. Each generation is living longer, healthier, active lives; however, there is no free lunch. In order to enjoy this extended, active lifestyle it is necessary to throw off the bad habits of our youth (such as smoking), get up out of the easy chair, turn off the stifling TV and exercise the body and mind - all this in order to offset the ravages of age. Our senior years can be a train wreck (as some describe it) or they can be a time of happiness and fulfillment. You choose.
Four functions must be addressed:
The Body - As we age, the cartilage that cushions and lubricates our joints often deteriorates and arthritis sets in. Tendons become weak and often rupture. Bones become brittle and loose density. Body building offsets this. Building and strengthening the muscles that activate the joints takes pressure off the cartilage, tendons and bones. It also helps to control the flab that inevitably grows around the middle. This generation does body building to stay fit and attract the opposite sex. We do it to stay comfortable and remain active. Vitamins and dietary supplements can restore calcium to our bones, rebuild cartilage and enhance blood flow, flax seed oil does wonders for digestion and there are a myriad of other balms for the body - all of which help to augment what nature is gradually taking away.
Next in line comes aerobic exercising to elevate the heartbeat above normal for at least 15 minutes four or five times a week. My wife and her lady friends walk for an hour several times a week. This not only satisfies aerobics but it is an excellent way to keep up to date on the latest gossip. My thing is bicycling. My son-in-law, who is in his 50s but looks and acts 20 years younger, often bicycles around Owasco Lake on the weekends. He is also near the front of the pack in our yearly “Great Race.” The bottom line is that longevity is not only found in the genes but also at the gym and in the great outdoors.
The Mind - The brain is much like a muscle. If you do not exercise it regularly it will atrophy. There is ample evidence that exercising the brain can be a major factor in offsetting Alzheimer's disease and dementia. My former boss and mentor Herb Laube -founder of the company that, today, is Auburn's largest employer and who is the subject of our next column) taught me most of what I know about running a business - but he taught me even more about retirement. When he retired in his late 60s he literally attacked his “retirement career.” Herb took Spanish lessons, piano lessons, wrote books, traveled, lectured and built a memorial bell tower in memory of his father who was a professor at Iowa State University. He became a role model for my “retirement career.”
There are a raft of activities that keep the mind sharp, including bridge, crossword puzzles, word games such as Scrabble (our favorite) and a variety of computer games. Speaking of computers, if you are avoiding this electronic marvel ) don't. The world of information and knowledge literally lies at your finger tips. You can also keep in touch with your friends, children and grandchildren via e-mail. Ask your grandchildren to teach you ) they know more than anyone else.
The Immune System - A bout with cancer taught me the value of the immune system which is our defense against every thing from the common cold to cancer and a medley of other maladies that attack the body. The immune system can break down for a number of reasons including stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, depression and just plain boredom and unhappiness. Since I could not tolerate chemotherapy after cancer surgery, the doctors told me that the only thing that stood between a reoccurrence was keeping my immune system as strong as possible. Proper diet and exercise was the prescription. Vitamins and dietary supplements also help. There are a number of holistic cancer clinics around the country that have successfully treated patients who have been declared terminal. Their approach is simply to flush the body of toxins and enact a rigid diet combined with vitamins and dietary supplements.
The Spirit - PMA (positive mental attitude) is absolutely essential to a long and fruitful life. It would be beneficial to strike “senior citizen” and “elderly” from our lexicon. Age is simply a state of mind. Whether you think you're old or you think you're not - you're right. My idol, my hero, my role model is movie actor, entrepreneur and race car driver/team owner Paul Newman. Last year, he drove his racecar No. 79 (which happens to be his age) in the 24-hour race at Daytona - the longest, most grueling, automobile race (for man and machine) in the country and he did damn fine, thank you. I think of him every time I strap on the helmet and climb in my racecar.
Case closed!
Harold Miller is a businessman and Auburn native. He can be reached at hmillermod@aol.com
The Body - As we age, the cartilage that cushions and lubricates our joints often deteriorates and arthritis sets in. Tendons become weak and often rupture. Bones become brittle and loose density. Body building offsets this. Building and strengthening the muscles that activate the joints takes pressure off the cartilage, tendons and bones. It also helps to control the flab that inevitably grows around the middle. This generation does body building to stay fit and attract the opposite sex. We do it to stay comfortable and remain active. Vitamins and dietary supplements can restore calcium to our bones, rebuild cartilage and enhance blood flow, flax seed oil does wonders for digestion and there are a myriad of other balms for the body - all of which help to augment what nature is gradually taking away.
Next in line comes aerobic exercising to elevate the heartbeat above normal for at least 15 minutes four or five times a week. My wife and her lady friends walk for an hour several times a week. This not only satisfies aerobics but it is an excellent way to keep up to date on the latest gossip. My thing is bicycling. My son-in-law, who is in his 50s but looks and acts 20 years younger, often bicycles around Owasco Lake on the weekends. He is also near the front of the pack in our yearly “Great Race.” The bottom line is that longevity is not only found in the genes but also at the gym and in the great outdoors.
The Mind - The brain is much like a muscle. If you do not exercise it regularly it will atrophy. There is ample evidence that exercising the brain can be a major factor in offsetting Alzheimer's disease and dementia. My former boss and mentor Herb Laube -founder of the company that, today, is Auburn's largest employer and who is the subject of our next column) taught me most of what I know about running a business - but he taught me even more about retirement. When he retired in his late 60s he literally attacked his “retirement career.” Herb took Spanish lessons, piano lessons, wrote books, traveled, lectured and built a memorial bell tower in memory of his father who was a professor at Iowa State University. He became a role model for my “retirement career.”
There are a raft of activities that keep the mind sharp, including bridge, crossword puzzles, word games such as Scrabble (our favorite) and a variety of computer games. Speaking of computers, if you are avoiding this electronic marvel ) don't. The world of information and knowledge literally lies at your finger tips. You can also keep in touch with your friends, children and grandchildren via e-mail. Ask your grandchildren to teach you ) they know more than anyone else.
The Immune System - A bout with cancer taught me the value of the immune system which is our defense against every thing from the common cold to cancer and a medley of other maladies that attack the body. The immune system can break down for a number of reasons including stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, depression and just plain boredom and unhappiness. Since I could not tolerate chemotherapy after cancer surgery, the doctors told me that the only thing that stood between a reoccurrence was keeping my immune system as strong as possible. Proper diet and exercise was the prescription. Vitamins and dietary supplements also help. There are a number of holistic cancer clinics around the country that have successfully treated patients who have been declared terminal. Their approach is simply to flush the body of toxins and enact a rigid diet combined with vitamins and dietary supplements.
The Spirit - PMA (positive mental attitude) is absolutely essential to a long and fruitful life. It would be beneficial to strike “senior citizen” and “elderly” from our lexicon. Age is simply a state of mind. Whether you think you're old or you think you're not - you're right. My idol, my hero, my role model is movie actor, entrepreneur and race car driver/team owner Paul Newman. Last year, he drove his racecar No. 79 (which happens to be his age) in the 24-hour race at Daytona - the longest, most grueling, automobile race (for man and machine) in the country and he did damn fine, thank you. I think of him every time I strap on the helmet and climb in my racecar.
Case closed!
Harold Miller is a businessman and Auburn native. He can be reached at hmillermod@aol.com
