INNOVATIVE HEALTH: Longevity: mind, body and spirit ...

While I pondered what I would say about "Longevity" to a Senior Center group where I was asked to speak, I did two things. I looked up the word in the dictionary and then I asked older people I knew what longevity meant to them so I could borrow from their years of wisdom.

The definition of longevity is: a long duration of individual life, length of life and the study of continuance. Hum, continuance what an interesting word --continue. Who wouldn't want to continue I thought? Isn't that what we all want? I guess I would want to continue if my life would be a long, healthy, rewarding life full of quality experiences and free from pain and other health issues. So, how do we do that?

One way, is by paying attention and by being aware. For example, if we come to an intersection, we need to stop and evaluate our circumstances. If we are driving a car, is the light green? Even if it is green, shouldn't we also look both ways to make sure nobody else is coming? We certainly won't live a long life if we are not aware of possible dangers around us! And, we certainly need a healthy, alert brain to make us aware of them. How do we create a healthy, alert brain?

Certainly a healthy diet is important: eating foods from nature such as nuts, seeds, berries, fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry and fish. But staying away from packaged and refined foods is even more important. They are full of fillers, chemicals, food additives, sugar and other toxins no matter how well they are marketed. Don't let the words "all natural" fool you. Read the labels. If there are ingredients you don't understand and can't pronounce on the label, then most likely you are not eating something from nature. Good food, fresh food, raw food heals.

Also important to keeping the brain and body healthy is exercise. Take a walk in nature. Get the muscles moving, the joints oiled, circulation flowing and inhale fresh air to oxygenate the blood and bring your brain alive. Exercise also helps rid the body of toxins and not only toxins from food and the environment, but also emotional toxins. When we exercise, we release "feel good" hormones into the bloodstream. We not only feel happier, but we are more energized too.

Next we need to address the spirit. For one to be happy, balanced and living in harmony, we must have a connection to spirit. Whether we go to church or not, it is important that our hearts are connected to something greater than us. When we wake up every morning with a sense of purpose, then we feel fulfilled. Your purpose can be as simple as putting a smile on your face and making someone else happy. But for the elders that I spoke to at the Senior Center, it was also something more. As a working parent, I didn't have a lot of time to spend with my children. But grandparents, ah, they have time to be patient with the young ones and to pass down to them their stories and experiences. Grandparents can teach the children how to sew and cook, to play an instrument or build something with their own hands. Everyone has something they can share with another. So how do we increase longevity? We get out there and volunteer, enjoy one another's company, play like a child, take walks in nature, learn a new language or teach one to someone else, belong to a club or group, continue to grow, and never retire from life. Make today and every day count.

Gail Kelly, QBS, SHC, Life Force Energies and The Innovative Health Network, can be contacted at LifeForceEnergies@tularosa.net . Innovative Health Network is now accepting requests to receive their monthly newsletter. Those who are interested should email innovativehealthnetwork@gmail.com.

rick warren the perfect storm hard boiled eggs sound of music mickelson how to tie a tie snl