How often do we hear that 50 is the new 40, or that 40 is the new 30, for example? Because we live longer, people's expectation of what they are capable of doing continually expands. We expect more from everything - our bodies, the medical profession, etc. - in our endless chase to turn back Father Time. It is hard however to talk about our personal habits, the ones that speed up Father Time, without becoming defensive. It is obvious we are not perfect by the way we treat ourselves, one another, and the world around us. What we must realize, however, is that our imperfections and habits, while greatly influencing our health, don't require us to be perfect to be healthy.
Some people can become so focused on their health, especially as they age, that they become totally engrossed in that process and become out of touch with their own process of living. We also have to consider society and how our culture programs us to think and believe that certain habits are acceptable, while others are not. This programming has no effect on the body, however; your body deals strictly with what you do to it and with it. Makes no difference to the body that some chemicals are legal, others are not. The principle is still the same and the choices still up to the individual.
One of the challenges of modern medicine is that it is so fantastic, so amazing, so breathtaking in its ability to improve every single day. As a result, personal responsibility and accountability don't seem to be as important or necessary. There is a false sense of security around that. Today's miracles become tomorrow's routine procedures. As such, our expectations ratchet up higher and higher. Each succeeding generation has higher expectations for living longer, living healthier, and being cared for by modern medicine. One part of this equation that demands the valuation is who exactly will be paying for this.
Life expectancy has increased approximately 25 years since the advent of social security in 1935. When Medicare began in 1965, replacing knees and hips (now as routine as lunch at the buffet) were unheard of. There was no budget for that and a slew of other procedures. When we consider that 20% or more of the elderly are being treated for five - that's right, five - chronic diseases simultaneously, to factor in the cost is staggering. Years ago one or maybe two chronic diseases were enough to kill most people. Not today. This is where the issue between prolonging death and quality of life is going. If we think issues such as abortion or illegal immigration or environmental pollution makes us squeamish, wait till we start to get our arms around end-of-life issues.
All this end-of-life stuff has resulted solely because technology enables medicine to work miracles. It is just that the miracles are expensive and we are running out of money. Now we are all jumping on the "green" bandwagon, trying to make up for lost time and the plundering of the environment during the 20th Century. Soon we all will be jumping on the "prevention" bandwagon so we can maintain some semblance of quality of life in the 21st Century without bankrupting the country paying for health care; in particular, procedures that only prolong death and do little to enhance the quality of life.
Our beliefs and attitudes about aging shape our experiences as we get older. Mental thoughts and beliefs become physical reality. Its one thing to be young at heart another to be young in the body. Beyond the physical aesthetics of aging, the graying or loss of hair, wrinkles, sagging skin, etc. are the issues of structure and function. Structure starts with your posture, range of motion and flexibility, and how pain-free or painful your joints are. Function is the condition of your internal organs and various internal processes of your body. So the whole picture is that aging must be understood from both a mental and physical aspect.
Increasingly today we see examples of people being able to do amazing things physically and otherwise at what would be normally considered advanced age. Professional baseball pitchers are now routinely playing into their 40's. A swimmer, Dana Torres, won medals in the 2008 Olympics at the washed-up age of 41 (pun intended).
Our world faces difficult challenges. Most of us would like to do something about them. The question is what? How can we as individuals measurably affect the world around us? Where does one begin? The subject of health, especially our own, is an excellent starting point. Health provides the ability we have to experience life itself. It determines both our individual condition and that of the planet as a whole. Health is so valuable that no amount of money could ever buy it.
Health is simpler to focus on when reduced to its basic components, like posture, and we take personal action with an attitude of gratitude and accountability. People with the gumption to have some interest in their own health should be applauded. They are taking steps to ensure a sound future for themselves, not just hoping it will happen.
Will Nelson teaches Lifestyle Management For Smart People. He is a Life Performance Specialist: "Think of a mechanic overhauling your car, except I help you tune up your mind and body." He created the Life 101 Program called Vitalogy, the study of vital living. Consider it your one-stop shopping for personal training, life coaching, massage therapy and nutritional guidance. Life today means learning how to make everything your own. Vitalogy's courses, done both online and with him personally, are designed to help you do just that.
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