Health, Community, Novelty, Purpose
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 49 seconds
Walking Clears My Head. Will it Give Me a Longer, Healthy Life?
After my wife passed away, my life took a new direction, one focused on health, novelty, community, and purpose. I found solace in walking, reading, working with Bridges and others in my community, and searching for meaning and purpose. Despite my efforts to explain why these activities have become essential to me, some people believe that I am being obsessive-compulsive. However, these are the ways to choose life over grieving. Every step I take, every page I turn, and every hour I contribute to Bridges contributes to my progress toward building a beloved community.
My Mother Got on a Bike.
It Changed Her Life
Recently, I came across an article in The New York Times that caught my attention. Titled “My Mother Got on a Bike. It Changed Her Life,” and written by Caroline Paul, the author of “Tough Broad: From Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking — How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Life as We Age,” the article highlighted the transformative power of outdoor activities on our lives, especially as we age.
The guest essay by Ms. Paul profoundly impacted me, leaving me feeling overwhelmed with emotions. It gave me the underlying reason for my drive to improve my life and live it to the fullest. It was an eye-opening read; everyone should take the time to peruse and consider its advice.
As Ms. Paul writes,
“Yet the way we look at our “own aging predicts what our future holds, as Becca Levy, a professor of public health at Yale, writes in her recent book, “Breaking the Age Code.” We increase our risk of cardiac events and speed up cognitive decline; studies show that we believe getting older is a time of suffering and diminution. More importantly, the opposite is true: Those who view later life as a time of growth and vitality are likelier to stay healthy and keep senility at bay. We may also live a whopping seven and a half years longer. In one instance, Dr. Levy looked at data from a longitudinal study and came to this astonishing conclusion: mindset was the most significant factor determining individuals’ longevity.”
“My Mother Got on a Bike. It Changed Her Life,” and written by Caroline Paul
Walking Cleared My Head and
Trimmed My Tummy
For my birthday last year, my NJ family gave me a book that combined two interests: walking and reading. The book “In Praise of Walking” by Shane O’Mara celebrates the joys, health benefits, and mechanics of walking. It emphasizes the importance of getting out of our chairs and discovering a happier, healthier, more creative self.
The book explained how walking has the potential to lead to mind wandering, which can result in us focusing on our memories rather than our surroundings. This means that while we may be physically present and walking, our minds may be elsewhere, lost in thoughts and memories. This realization helped me appreciate and accept my partner’s love for walking and enjoy it with her.
In the book, the author explores the significance of walking, a fundamental aspect of our human identity. Our ability to walk upright has given us many advantages, including the freedom to use our hands and minds simultaneously. This unique trait has enabled us to travel vast distances and discover new lands. Moreover, walking has numerous benefits for our physical and mental well-being. It aids in protecting and rejuvenating our vital organs, facilitating digestion, and boosting our cognitive abilities. Walking is an essential part of our existence and has played a pivotal role in shaping human evolution. Personally, walking has helped me lose thirty-five pounds.
Living Life Fully
As I sit here pondering my mortality, I can’t help but wonder if it’s too much to ask for a longer and healthier life. I aspire to see my grandchildren grow up and become adults and lend a helping hand to my dear friends during their most trying times.
I am fully aware that, eventually, my body will falter. My legs will cease to bear me with ease, my eyes will lose their sharpness, and the words on the page will blur. However, until that moment arrives, I pledge not to age gracefully but with unyielding determination to make the most out of my life.
The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. All donations are tax-deductible.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
After almost 48 years, I recently lost my wife, Jan Lilien. Like The Little Prince, Jan and I believed that “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.” This blog is a collection of my random thoughts on love, grief, life, and all things considered.
