| I have a confession to make - I am a slave. | | | | we can continue no more in this physical body on |
| I have been slaving away this summer to | | | | earth. But we can control healthy aging in the |
| complete a first novel and neglecting my body by | | | | development and maintenance of optimal physical, |
| not feeding and exercising it right. I have become | | | | mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. |
| a slave to writing; my back aches and muscles | | | | Enjoying healthy aging depends on two things: |
| ache. I sit at my computer for more hours than it | | | | what you do (your actions) and what you think |
| is accustomed, slaving over a word, a paragraph, | | | | (your attitudes and your beliefs). |
| sentence structure, plot, character, theme, scene. | | | | Along the way, however, I have learned to have |
| I am a slave, a lonely writer sitting at the | | | | an open mind. If you think in terms of possibility |
| computer with the intention of one thing - | | | | not in terms of impossibility and willing to accept |
| completing a 70,000 word manuscript. | | | | new concepts and new ways of seeing the world; |
| Shouldn't I be doing something else; something I | | | | you are aging healthy. |
| enjoy? | | | | An open mind gives us access to healthy aging |
| Well, I am doing what I enjoy - writing. No one | | | | tools you wouldn't consider if your mind was |
| ever told me in journalism class what it takes to | | | | closed. It also uses those brain cells more. |
| write a novel. Journalism and creative writing are | | | | If by letting go of the past, thinking what might |
| two separate cats in a sack - fighting and clawing | | | | have been, should have been, or could have been; |
| at one another. The creative think tanks in novel | | | | you are aging healthy. |
| writing chide me to "show," not "tell," when writing | | | | There's just what was, what is, and what will be. |
| fiction. As a journalist it was my duty to tell. Now | | | | No judgment. |
| I've got to show? If I wanted to "show," wouldn't | | | | Regrets, resentments, and grief are major |
| I be producing films or movies? I get it, however. | | | | barriers to healthy aging. They create stress on |
| People want to see action, suspense, horror, | | | | our body's cells. |
| death, romance, magic, mystery. Readers want | | | | Be grateful for what you have. Gratitude is one |
| to feel, see, hear and touch your characters as | | | | of the most positive vibrations you can have. |
| your words spill across a stupid piece of paper. | | | | Healthy aging is all about healthy energy. When |
| The readers want to ride along with you every | | | | you can fill yourself with healthy energy, exude |
| mile of the road to the climax. You bring them | | | | healthy energy, and vibrate at a high energetic |
| there by pacing the novel so your reader is set | | | | level, you slow the aging process and optimize |
| up to be thrilled or chilled. | | | | your well being. |
| This has been part of my scheme, however, | | | | Live like you have plenty of time. Forget the "live |
| since as far back as I can remember. It was one | | | | as if each day was your last" advice. Yes, you |
| person's dream, mine alone. My goals were set | | | | want to cherish each day, but don't expect your |
| four to five decades ago when someone told me | | | | days to be finite. Plan, dream, and grow, and |
| I was a good writer. I decided back in those | | | | expect to do so indefinitely. Your expectation can |
| renaissance years to write. My plan after I retired | | | | create your reality. |
| would be writing fiction. Well, here I am. I'm not | | | | Healthy aging is in my/our control. Your actions |
| getting any younger and I have become a slave | | | | and your thoughts will determine the level of |
| to writing fiction. I never knew there were so | | | | health and wellbeing you get to enjoy. Choose the |
| many ingredients to writing a good novel. I am still | | | | best actions and the best attitudes and beliefs, |
| learning as I age. | | | | and you'll enjoy healthy aging. |
| I know this can't be right. I don't own my body | | | | Slaves are chattel property. Their bodies are |
| any longer. That was never my intention. | | | | owned by someone else. They are not |
| While some retirees stress over what they would | | | | empowered to make decisions about their bodies |
| like to be doing at this stage in their life, I am | | | | and they are powerless to decide upon, or |
| writing a silly novel. You've got to wonder what I | | | | protest, its use and misuse. If someone |
| am thinking. | | | | determines for you what happens to your body |
| I actually know what I should and shouldn't be | | | | without your consent or participation, you are a |
| doing, but I do it not. | | | | slave. |
| Healthy aging is the process of taking charge of | | | | If you do not own your body, you are a slave. |
| your wellbeing as you age. Healthy aging is one of | | | | I learned this lesson the hard way last weekend |
| the few things in life that's actually in our control. | | | | when my wife had to help me out of the recliner |
| Although most people don't start talking about | | | | due to an achy, breaky back. |
| healthy aging until they hit mid-life, true healthy | | | | I'm taking my body back, but I am still going to |
| aging begins when we're young. It continues until | | | | write. Praise God. |