It’s an indisputable fact that seniors today are living longer, living better, and doing more than at any time in history. It’s almost as though they have imbibed from a fountain of youth.
And surely there is such a fountain. Herodotus (circa 425 BC) wrote of a spring in Ethiopia to which Ethiopians attributed their long life. Alexander the Great and his servant crossed the Land of Darkness to find the restorative waters, recounted by Al-Khidr in Middle Eastern legends. More recently (circa 1500) Ponce de Leon sought the eternal spring in Florida where thousands of seniors continue to descend apparently in search of the illusory waters.
A fountain of youth? “Not so,” declares one octogenarian who heads a Habitat for Humanity. “I walk two miles most days. No fountain of youth for me.”
A Boomer just turned 55 also objected. “A heart attack ten years ago put me on a new regimen. Now I exercise three times a week, enjoy red wine with dinner, and serve on three boards promoting the arts.”
The secret of their vitality lies in exercise, healthy food choices, and “involvement.” Like many seniors, they contribute generously in time and talent to other people and to their community.
Being connected to fellow human beings makes one happy, according to Dr. David Ludwig, Professor Emeritus at Lenoir Rhyne University. After years of research, he has concluded that if left alone, most people turn their attention into themselves and become depressed. With 64 percent of seniors living by themselves, the possibility of feeling isolated is very real. If they contribute and stay involved, they in turn feel a happiness within themselves.