Live to 100

I was reading an article the other day in the newspaper by some one who had visited the site www.livingto100.com. Apparently, you can key in certain family or lifestyle characteristics and the site will estimate how long you have to live - just the cheeriest place on earth :)  Anyway, I have chosen not to go there.  My father is 98, still alive and functioning not too badly.  My mother died dancing, at the age of 84.  I don't actually like being told, what is going to happen to me, so I avoid all soothsayers, although I read my horoscope daily, just for fun!!

Well, since I ran across this site again in a post from my blogging group,  I felt that it was worth a mention. The article in the newspaper was interesting. The journalist had had some health issues recently and was starting to count the days!!!  He likened his situation to people on a diet or those wishing to get out of debt. Counsellors for these problems will tell you to "make a list."  Make a list of all the food that you eat in a day, if you are trying to lose weight, in an effort to identify the excesses and control them.

If you are trying to save money or get out of debt, make a list of everything you spend money on, in a day and try to cut out the frivolous.  So why not, the writer argued, make a list of what you do or intend to do, in a day, to see if you are maximizing the opportunities given to you, before your looming Armageddon.

This I can identify with. (with this I can identify) - for those who wonder why I rephrase words in brackets -  it's a hang over from teaching - often what is correct is not the vernacular and I like to pay homage to both. It's Churchillian English - never end a sentence with a preposition unless it means winning a war :)

So here is my war against the dying of the light, or those arbitrary missives that say you will end here or there.

Amaryllis - small embellishments to the day!!

1. I write this blog to record interesting "things" that have entered my radar. Writing about these blips, these signs of the existence of things real or imagined gives me time to pause and enjoy them. It's not so much about having busy days, it's more about having days of meaning - quality not quantity.

2. I am cleaning out the clutter, to free up my mind and my space to concentrate on what's important.

3. I am walking more, for exercise, yes, but also for moments of interest. Walking is one of the slowest ways of moving from A to B. When you zip by in a car you miss so much.

4. I am trying to connect more with people.  I often say that I am not strongly a people person. Don't get me wrong.  I love people.  I just don't always seek them out as energizers. I sometimes have to recharge my batteries by being alone and writing or knitting or walking.

5. Making 3 changes.  I was talking to a friend the other day and she is following a writer, who has suggested that you can improve your life through small changes. He recommends that you try to change just three things, at a time.  Presumably when the first 3 things are ingrained, you move onto another 3 things and so on. Well, my friend plans to cut out junk food, soda pop and wheat. I thought OK, I don't eat junk food, or drink pop, and I plan to keep my addiction to pasta for another year or two.

So, I have to come up with some other ideas. I do want to read more and I was thinking of getting an audio book system set up. I also plan on keeping a better filing system, once I have cleaned out the clutter. And finally I will step up my "Dale Carnegie" approach to life and its challenges - never criticize or say negative things - everything can be re-phrased with a positive spin!!

I hope that I can keep all these things going for the second half.