Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

  I turned 82 a short while ago and I am in a battle . It starts with remaining verticle - meaning not spending most of the day and night in a horizontal position in bed and on the couch - or, at the worst, ending up in a coffin "on the wrong side of the grass". Viability is about surviving or living successfully - being able to accomplish the necessary  functions that were easy in younger days. Vibrancy in the elderly years is a tougher one.It's about energy and enthusiam . Tough goals in your 80s. Luck always plays a role in longevity and my "3V-trilogy". Disease and injury can take you ou t, and genetic makeup plays a major role. I have dealt with all of that. No one in my 5-person, original family lived past 64 years of age - except me . My dad and brother died at that age, and my mom passed away at 48 - while my sister died at 19. I have dealt with cancer and heart disease that took my mother and brother, respectively, and have luckily avoided the n...

 Call it evolving- or call it adapting - but  remaining active and viable past the age of eighty requires a boatload of changes.  "You can't tweak your little finger without your brain initiating the action." -- Tom Lane Everything starts with your brain . Having passed the 80-mark almost two years ago, I spend a good amount of time pondering  how I will fill the next day. This is as basic as it gets . Spending eight decades on this earth creates a lot of habits - both good and bad.  Lethargy wants to take you out of the action, and it needs to be fought.  A lazy lifestyle is a killer and will take you out sooner than later. "Lack of curiosity in older folks separates them from the younger set." -- Tom Lane I learn more from my mistakes and those of others than I do from success.   Daily movement  is critical.  Mental stimulation  is vital. Living in the past on previous glories and not getting out of your comfort zone creates a downward...

 The primary rule of survival is:   "Be aware of your surroundings" Okay. So what can kill you? The specific list is long, but the basic things that do people in include: 1.) Serious disease 2.) Traumatic injury 3.) Suicide 4.) Murder 5.) Terrible genetics I have survived several bouts with #1, serious illness - including dangerously-high blood pressure, prostate cancer and aortic stenosis . Any of the three maladies could have done me in had my doctor not detected the issues while they were still manageable.  The lessons are clear . I have almost-always been in good-to-excellent shape - and remain there at the age of 80-plus. It is always a good practice to go into surgery lean and muscular. The benefits of doing so far outweigh the work and mental discipline required. And another point. Avoiding the medical profession is not advisable for those seeking longevity. Referring to #2, I have had very few injuries in my life, with none being traumatic. Wherever I am - be it ...

 Call it evolving- or call it adapting - but remaining active and viable past the age of eighty requires a boatload of changes.  "You can't tweak your little finger without your brain initiating the action." -- Tom Lane Everything starts with your brain . Having passed the 80-mark almost two years ago, I spend a good amount of time pondering how I will fill the next day. This is as basic as it gets . Spending eight decades on this earth creates a lot of habits - both good and bad. Lethargy wants to take you out of the action, and it needs to be fought. A lazy lifestyle is a killer and will take you out sooner than later. "Lack of curiosity in older folks separates them from the younger set." -- Tom Lane I learn more from my mistakes and those of others than I do from success. Daily movement is critical. Mental stimulation is vital. Living in the past on previous glories and not getting out of your comfort zone creates a downward slide.  My family members (da...

 You were born weak, frail and afraid. Don't end up that way. If my memory served me correctly, some form of the above quote was part of an old ad for a protein supplement. It got my attention.  Just Google the term "sarcopenia" and you will find a wealth of information on the effects of losing muscle as you get older. This Harvard Health piece is only one of many on the subject. The point is simple, but the process of maintaining - and certainly building - muscle is not . It can be difficult, but worth the effort.  It has been a year since I underwent a surgical procedure to replace my aortic valve . I went into the hospital in great shape for someone 78 years old , but I had to curtail most of my exercise prior to the operation and had lost some strength and muscle mass. By the way, I had ZERO symptoms from the severe plugging of the artery with calcium, but my surgeon told me that my first symptom may be to drop dead. Predators prey on the weak-old-and-frail. Not j...