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March
Fountain of Youth
Ah yes, everlasting youngness as desired by all
elder citizens. The Fountain of Youth is a
legendary spring that reputedly restores the youth
of anyone who drinks of its waters, and seniors
have been looking for that drinking fountain for
centuries. But the most recent hunter for these
elixir type waters was the legend that became
particularly prominent in the 16th century, when it
became associated with the Spanish explorer Juan
Ponce de León, the first Governor of Puerto
Rico. According to legends, Ponce de León
was searching for the Fountain of Youth when he
traveled to what is now Florida in 1513.
Unsurprisingly he denied it. Since then the
fountain has been frequently associated with
Florida in St. Augustine.
Of course, the answer to this bit of history is
that it is a legend. No one has found it and
everyone believes it doesn’t exist. But in
today’s realm of elderly citizens there is
hope. There is a fountain of youth, and it is
called attitude and habits. There is the old
saying, ‘you may age, but you don’t have
to grow older.’ The passing of time no one can
do anything about, but the use of that time is
another issue. Think young, and be young. Act
young, and look young. That is, pretend you are a
young athlete preparing for a daily race. You have
to stretch and exercise to strengthen those
muscles, and avoid the fattening diet to keep from
bulking up the wrong parts of the body.
Of course, in reality, there is a fountain of
youth. It is called a water tap or water bottle.
Water is an important element in the body’s
health. How much water should you drink each day?
It’s a simple question with no easy answers.
It depends, studies have produced varying
recommendations over the years, but in truth, your
water needs depend on many factors, including your
health, how active you are and where you live.
Although no single formula fits everyone, knowing
more about your body’s need for fluids will
help you estimate how much water to drink each day.
And don’t forget, there is water in most
things you drink; coffee, juice, not daiquiris. And
if you are exercising and sweating, you will need a
little more, because for example, water flushes
toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to
your cells and provides a moist environment for
ear, nose and throat tissues. Water makes up about
sixty percent of your body. Your body depends on it
and needs it.
But before any daily exercise program begins the
muscles must be prepared, that is, stretched and
flexed so no hurting, painful injuries will happen
while getting younger. Some people use the bed as a
starting point to stretch the legs and back, then
hit the floor and squat and bend the back, front
and forward, and lean against the wall and grab an
ankle and stretch the leg muscles by pulling it up
behind you. There so are many variations of these
exercises so it is best to do a little
research.
Walking, slow or fast, is probably the best and
easiest exercise on a path to youth. Thirty
minutes, three or four times a week is a good
start. And then increase the pace, the time, and
the days of the week. Don’t forget the water,
either before or after, or carry a bottle of water
with you. If you can, take the scenic route in your
exercise to keep the mind active and not bored. If
you can’t do that, then a treadmill or
exercise bike inside your place or at a nearby gym
will help a lot.
There you have it. You don’t have to travel
to St. Augustine to find the fountain of youth. It
is right inside you to be used and activated. But
it is best to avoid Mark Twain’s advice when
in the hunt for this fountain of youth, “I
have never taken any exercise except sleeping and
resting.” That is the fountain of aging.
©2013, Patrick
Kennedy
* * *
Man arrives as a novice at each age of his life.
- Nicolas Chamfort
Patrick
M. Kennedy (P Manvel Kennedy) has been a
professional writer, editor, and graphic artist for
over 30 years. He is the author of three books:
More
Fun with Retirement: A coffee break for
seniors,
How
to Have Fun with
Retirement, and
Being
a Senior Citizen: You rnew phase of life with
many questions looking for
answers. and his
latest book: More Fun with Retirement: A
coffee break for seniors. He currently works from
Boise, Idaho. In the past he has worked from
Seattle, Indianapolis, and Las Vegas. He keeps busy
because he knows it is important when writing or
editing any material with a particular objective in
mind, for either personal use or business goals, to
present ideas with quality, clarity and accuracy.
He can do that, and he does most of it himself, but
he occasionally must call upon qualified associates
for assistance.
"My Resume shows me as an
experienced professional writer and editor who
specializes in the English language. With years of
professional experience in the
writing/editing/graphics field, I offer quality
services to both individual and business clients,
with prompt and accurate solutions designed to meet
their needs, and online editing services and
writing services for easy and quick results.
www.abetterword.com
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