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15 Ways to Reverse Aging
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It's often said that we each have some special gift or talent to share with the world. Sometimes, of course, this gift is obvious. The Olympic athlete, the scuptor, the great composer all come to mind. But you don't have to be Wilma Rudolph, Michaelangelo, or Mozart to inspire and enrich the lives of others with your talents. Maybe you have an infectious laugh, a knack for telling stories, for gardening, for teaching, or simply for listening and caring. Chances are good that you know what that gift is. Maybe others have told you--teachers, parents, friends. Maybe you've seen how others can be moved and enriched by your efforts. Attend to that gift. Nourish and practice it. Develop and share it--your gift to the world. Activity:1. In no more than two sentences describe a gift that you can share. 2. Tell how, where, and when you can share your gift with others.
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It's tough to function in an inhospitable place. If your living environment is cluttered or noisey or toxic, if it lacks privacy or essential creature comforts, it's time to take action. If you find yourself surrounded by stacks of old magazines or newspapers, start now to recycle them. If you have loud neighbors, ask them to quiet down, and if that doesn't help, speak to your landlord, even the file a complaint with the police. Wash those dishes. Get out the broom and the vacuum. Rearrange the furniture. Improve the lighting. Hang a picture. Empty the trash. Start now, bit by bit, one item at a time, begin to remake your living environment into a place where you can feel comfortable, secure, and productive. Make a place that reflects your values and tastes. A place to live, not just to exist. If you can't do it alone, ask a buddy for help. Offer to return the favor. ActivityMake a short to-do list of improvements you can make to your living environment. Prioritize the the items on the list and take some action every day for at least a week. Check off the items as you get them done.
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Reclaim your past. Don't let it just slip away. Your life is like a novel or motion picture in which you are the main character. Why not write it down, or if you'd rather, get a voice recorder and and simply speak into it. Such a project may seem daunting at first (what to say? how to begin?) but don't be put off. You can start anywhere and just write down the facts in a clear and straightforward manner. If you don't feel comfortable writing about yourself, write about someone else, maybe a parent or child or another person who had an impact on your life. Or begin writing about a place, maybe a neighborhood you once lived in or a place you once worked. Another sort of project could be a family history, not about you but about your ancestors, as far back as you can go. In the process of gathering details, you could contact family members for their recollections and memorabilia. A great place to do this writing would be your Blog on this Website. If you want to include a photo gallery, you can do that here also. By using the blog and the Gallery together, you could produce a digital scrapbook for your friends and family. ActivityBegin telling your life story in words and pictures. Make a blog that tells about a person, place, or event that influenced you. Use the gallery to include pictures that help to illustrate. Share this with friends and family. Invite them to comment.
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This means volunteer, assist, help out. People who volunteer on a regular basis as part of an ongoing commitment to a worthy organization or cause like Friends of the Library or the Humane Society are performing a valued service and are rewarded with friendships, satisfaction, and personal growth. People who routinely assist others in meeting their needs as friends or caregivers build good karma and make the world a better place. And some happy souls simply express in their very nature a generosity of spirit that William Wordsworth called, "feelings too / Of unremembered pleasure: such, perhaps, / As have no slight or trivial influence / On that best portion of a good man's life, / His little, nameless, unremembered, acts / Of kindness and of love." Such acts enlarge and enrich all who are touched by them. ActivityFor a week, look for opportunities to volunteer, help out, lend a hand to an individual or group without expecting any reward or repayment. You don't have to take up every one of these opportunities; after all, people sometimes need to learn to do for themselves, but try to find a few situations in which you can be of genuine assistance to another, and help.
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Maybe from your childhood you remember "the buddy system," where you never went hiking or swimming or engaged in any especially challenging activity without a buddy to turn to for help when things got tough. Well, what could be tougher than aging? You should buddy-up. If you already have a spouse or a partner, you may be in good shape. If you don't, look around at people you know and trust, perhaps a longtime family friend, someone from your church or your neighborhood. This doesn't have to be someone to live with, though it could turn into that, but at the very least someone you can call for help with a small problem or in a time of crisis and who will feel free to call on you in the same situation. Someone to share holidays and hugs with, triumphs and tragedies. ActivityList at least four people you might be able to buddy-up with. Try extending yourself to them in friendship. When the time feels right, explain the buddy system to at least one and ask that person to be your buddy.
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15 Ways