I'm submitting a narrative for their "What's Your Story?" and I'm living in hopes it will be published. They just want approx 300 words and mine ended up at 388. They need two photo's as well, so now I'm scrabbling round trying to find some of the correct size. And flattering enough. This could take some time.
In the meantime, I was rather taken with their feature on growing old gracefully. It has a picture of George Clooney as its header. He's enough to draw me in anywhere! However, it's countered by an absolutely dreadful picture of Jodie Marsh heading the piece about wearing too much make up.
Here it is in its entirety....................
Want To Age Gracefully? Avoid These 7 Things
Aging gracefully and slowly is partly influenced by our genes. But we have a direct influence on the process by the environment we create in our lives. Aging gracefully is partly in our control.
George Clooney, now in his early 50s and a baby boomer.
The lucky ones – people like actor George Clooney – seem to be getting better and better with each passing year, like a fine wine while some are just learning by trial and error.
The graceful agers aren’t aging better, they’re just aging smarter — and the secret isn’t necessarily in what they’re doing. It’s in what they aren’t doing. As life expectancy continues to increase across the globe, there’s no time like now to look and feel better.
Lucky for you we’ve rounded up some of the things the graceful agers are avoiding. And, feel free to share your graceful aging tips with us in comments!
1. Wearing too much makeup.
As you age, you might be tempted to overdo the makeup to emulate a more youthful appearance. But there’s nothing attractive about cakey foundation or spidery lashes. Makeup should only enhance your natural beauty not mask it. Mireille Guiliano, the author of “French Women Don’t Get Facelifts” stresses the importance of keeping your makeup clean and natural. “Stop trying to dress like your daughter or younger self … go lighter on the makeup.”
2. Consuming too much salt.
High blood pressure is one of many conditions whose likelihood increases with age. In fact, nearly two-thirds of Americans over 60 have high blood pressure according to the NIH. A high sodium diet is a trigger. And since aging gracefully isn’t just about your outside, we want to keep our insides healthy as well.
3. Negativity.
“I stay away from negative people, places and things. I always look positive, and am thankful for what I have,” centenarian Daisy McFadden told Forbes. But don’t just take Daisy’s word for it. Numerous studies have shown that positive people are less prone to mental decline and lead happier lives.
4. Watching too much TV.
Getting a little too comfortable on the couch is unhealthy at any age, but particularly as you get older. Not only will valuable time slip right through your fingers and before your eyes, but you may be shortening your life. An Australian study found that for every hour of TV watched after age 25, people lose 22 minutes from their life expectancy. If that wasn’t bad enough, watching TV makes you vulnerable to several other aging pitfalls like a sedentary lifestyle and social isolation.
5. Excessive sun exposure.
To some extent there’s no avoiding the lines and wrinkles that accompany aging. But if you’re getting too many rays without protection, you may be severely damaging your skin. Studies have shown applying sunscreen can protect your skin from wrinkles, sun spots, and loss of firmness or elasticity.
6. Stress.
Life will always have its stresses, from family to work to finances. It’s unavoidable and can cause a barrage of health problems like sleeplessness, depression, and heart disease. Some studies suggest stress can make you appear up to 10 years older. But people aging gracefully have learned to manage their stress. Whether it’s meditation, exercise, or just taking a couple minutes for yourself everyday to unplug from technology and walk away from your desk, it’s highly beneficial for your insides and outsides to learn to tame your stress.
7. Overindulging.
Sure you should live a little and enjoy the occasional indulgence. But moderation is key in aging gracefully. For some people smoking cigarettes regularly turns skin leathery. Whatever your vice may be, whether it’s alcohol, fatty foods, sweets, or even soda, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Eating a high fat diet, consuming excess sugar, and not getting enough exercise are all culprits. A poor diet can also increase free radicals in your body, which can damage your DNA and age you.
[Source: HuffPost50.]
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