"My mother, brother and one of my sisters all reached 96 before they died and I, being the youngest in the family, would like to live the longest before I join them."
Love his attitude. A lot of living a long life is the genetic lottery, but I think attitude also matters. In my own family's case, I find this a bit confusing. My parents were older parents, both college educated at a time when that was rarer. My dad was ten years older than my mom, and in his 40s when I was born. My dad was a realistic optimist with a wonderful sense of humor who took joy in those he loved and in his work and hobbies. He never stopped reading and learning and questioning. He lived to be 89 despite being in a family where everyone close to him—parents and siblings—died in their 50s or 60s. He was mentally alert and physically strong despite heart disease and adult-onset diabetes (my dad was Indigenous, and at higher risk for the disease, which he and my mom worked to control with diet). My mom was also well-read and active with hobbies she loved and a commitment to her community, but she was a pessimist. I think her pessimism came from childhood trauma related to an alcoholic father, but she didn't want to discuss it, so it's difficult to know how she felt. My mom said from the time she was relatively young—in her 50s—that she hoped she didn't live to be too old. I asked her once when she wished she'd died, and she said in her 50s, which would have meant when her children were all in their early twenties, or in the case of my younger sister, still in high school. As she aged, I was her primary caretaker. She was in good health until she was 92 when she got COPD. She died just after she turned 95. When she was ill and hospitalized a few times related to the COPD or as a precautionary measure when her doctor thought something might be wrong, I noticed she wanted to live, but she would continue to say she didn't. She was not the best role model for her three daughters. My dad was my role model. I'm a robust person with no medical issues. I'm young for my age both mentally and physically. The five things that matter most in my opinion are genetics, exercise, diet, attitude, and social connection. Luck plays a role, but so do our choices. When I think about aging. I think about the Dylan lyric, "He not busy being born is busy dying." I try to find my way through to a positive place of joy each day. Some days that is difficult. Thank you for this series. I love the view you provide into other's relationship to life and aging.
Love his attitude. A lot of living a long life is the genetic lottery, but I think attitude also matters. In my own family's case, I find this a bit confusing. My parents were older parents, both college educated at a time when that was rarer. My dad was ten years older than my mom, and in his 40s when I was born. My dad was a realistic optimist with a wonderful sense of humor who took joy in those he loved and in his work and hobbies. He never stopped reading and learning and questioning. He lived to be 89 despite being in a family where everyone close to him—parents and siblings—died in their 50s or 60s. He was mentally alert and physically strong despite heart disease and adult-onset diabetes (my dad was Indigenous, and at higher risk for the disease, which he and my mom worked to control with diet). My mom was also well-read and active with hobbies she loved and a commitment to her community, but she was a pessimist. I think her pessimism came from childhood trauma related to an alcoholic father, but she didn't want to discuss it, so it's difficult to know how she felt. My mom said from the time she was relatively young—in her 50s—that she hoped she didn't live to be too old. I asked her once when she wished she'd died, and she said in her 50s, which would have meant when her children were all in their early twenties, or in the case of my younger sister, still in high school. As she aged, I was her primary caretaker. She was in good health until she was 92 when she got COPD. She died just after she turned 95. When she was ill and hospitalized a few times related to the COPD or as a precautionary measure when her doctor thought something might be wrong, I noticed she wanted to live, but she would continue to say she didn't. She was not the best role model for her three daughters. My dad was my role model. I'm a robust person with no medical issues. I'm young for my age both mentally and physically. The five things that matter most in my opinion are genetics, exercise, diet, attitude, and social connection. Luck plays a role, but so do our choices. When I think about aging. I think about the Dylan lyric, "He not busy being born is busy dying." I try to find my way through to a positive place of joy each day. Some days that is difficult. Thank you for this series. I love the view you provide into other's relationship to life and aging.