Tips For Longer Living

Everybody seems to be on this health kick. Everyone wants to live longer. Well, anyone can tell you how to do this, but there is a question I ask and I shall ask it after we go through all the things that will keep you on this earth a few extended years.

I think the first thing that jumps right out at us is to eat better. Eat more fruits and vegetables. A healthier diet is always key to better health. Especially your greens. One of my favorites to eat is broccoli. I also eat a lot of mushrooms and onions. In the summer, I eat at least two days a week, nothing but garden fresh salads. Sometimes three days. But fruits are essential as well. Normally, when I take a day to eat nothing but a salad, I also throw in various fruits into the mix. At least once a month I make sure I eat pineapple, purple and green grapes, green apples, peaches, banana's, and pears. I also drink a lot more orange juice in the summer too.

I also cut down on the meats in hotter weather. Drink at least a half gallon of water a day, and then do what we all know helps our health, walk.

Yes, you heard me, walk, instead of running or jogging. It's actually better for you. Less impact on your body, especially your feet. A nice five mile walk everyday does the trick where cardiovascular is concerned.

Something not to do is smoke. I suppose that goes without saying. Maybe doing a few push-ups every now and then wouldn't kill you either. Even some sit-ups.

Stay away from the booze and the drugs, the junk food, the fast food, pizza's. Yeah, sure, we get that already, right?

Sometimes a cup of coffee and or tea wouldn't hurt. Especially herbal teas. A little chocolate and a glass of wine now and then will also help your health, provided you do it in moderation. Inversion also helps promote good health. I use a Teeter Inversion for that. If you can't afford one, try laying head first on your back on a children's playground slide. That can be used as a sort of supplement. Or you can hang upside down on some monkey bars. Just make sure you clean out your pockets first.

Okay, if you do all of these things, you'll live to be a hundred, right?

Well, first of all, wrong!

Second of all, why would you want to live to be a hundred?

We'll start with the first of all first. Just because you do all of these things to safe guard your health doesn't mean you will live longer. It might help your chances, however, you can't predict accidents. You know, an auto accident or maybe you get gunned down in a movie theater. Or perhaps you visit Florida and run into George Zimmerman. You just never know. 

It's also worth mentioning that just because you don't smoke cigarettes, or take in the alleged second hand smoke, it doesn't mean you won't get any kind of cancer. The truth is, every human being is born with cancer cells that lie dormant until they decide to become active. some times they don't. Where cancer is concerned, it's just the luck of the draw. (Or bad luck of the draw as the case may be.) Still, not all smokers get cancer and not all non smokers are immune from it. 

Now for the second of all. Honestly, why would you want to live to be a hundred? Statistics say that 95 percent of people who live to be ninety years old, have no control of their faculties, or are dependent upon others for their care. You are apt to lose control of your bowels / bladders, and will probably be frail as a twig. Your mind may not be there like it used to, and there's a pretty good chance you won't be able to drive either. Eyes can go bad. Basically, with old age, your body starts to break down at some point. It's just a fact of Mother Nature, and biology. 

So again, I ask the question - Why? Why spend the final days of your life not being able to do the things you love to do? What's the point? 

I see how the elderly are. I see my mother and how she has become a different person due to old age. She is slower when she walks, forgetful at times. I see them always taking their pills for this or for that. Maybe it's just me, but life isn't worth all of that. In fact, life is to be lived, not tolerated. By living I mean, I like to smoke. I like to drink. I like to get up and go whenever I decide to. I just don't think I would enjoy life if I ever get to the point where I can't defend myself against some punk attacker. Or if I couldn't drive my car where ever and whenever I like. Not to mention, bald hair and shriveled testies and or missing all of my teeth doesn't sound very exciting to me. 

I think when I get to a point in my life when I am becoming more and more restricted in my movements and thoughts, then that would be right about the time I would be more welcoming of death. Let's face it, without death, then what is life really all about? 

So sure, you can do all the things that make and keep you healthy. Eat all the things that will help you live longer, but you don't have to go overboard with it. You can still enjoy a Big Mac and a Whopper. You can still eat those curly fries. Go ahead, have some chicken and steak. Pig out on those chips and donuts. Go out there and have some fun in life. It's the things that are bad for you that makes life worth living in the first place. And if you fall to your death sky diving, at least you got to sky dive before you died, you know? 

You only get one spin around the board, this aint Monopoly. Get out there and do the things you love to do. Hang with the people you love to hang with. Eat what makes you happy. Just get out there and enjoy your life. Don't worry it away over death. Trust me, when it's over, it's over. That awesome double cheeseburger isn't going to cut your life short because the truth is, nobody is promised any amount of time on this earth. Nobody! And right before I die, I want to be able to smile and recall that earlier in the day, I had that last cheeseburger, or that last smoke, or that last drink. Heck, maybe if I'm lucky, I even had my last piece of tail. 

Oh yeah, I will die with a smile indeed.