Some years ago, at the age of 61, I quit my job, rented out my flat and flew to Australia to research my family history. It was not an easy business. In the days before Airbnb and other similar organisations made letting so much more flexible, agents insisted on a minimum of a year’s lease, with a six-month break clause, gas safety checks, inventories, fire-proofing and so on. On my part, there was the cancelling of utilities, council tax, water and phone and broadband contracts. I had to inform – and pay – my insurance and mortgage companies. And, of course, there was the packing up and storing of all my personal stuff. (Fortunately, I have a loft.) I Don’t Regard Myself as a Particularly Adventurous Person I’m a cautious soul by nature, and I like a certain predictability in…
‘I’m a 68-Year-Old Trainer, and Have Stronger Arms Today Than I Did in My 30s Thanks to These 3 Moves’
The inspo of Michelle Obama’s swole arms has stuck around long past the Obama presidency, and for good reason. A strong upper body is linked to longevity, and assists with essential functions as we age like maintaining balance. Not to mention that toned shoulders, biceps, and triceps look dang impressive on anyone. Liz Hilliard, a 68-year-old trainer and the owner and creator of Hilliard Studio Method in Charlotte, North Carolina, focuses on arm strength for both herself and her clients. And she says that, personally, her arms are stronger today than they were in her 30s, since she added arm resistance training to her workout routine three times per week. “We begin losing muscle mass beginning around the age of 30,” Hilliard says. “While traditional workouts such as cardio and stretching are important, nothing beats resistance training for keeping our bones strong and…
Can Living in Fear Age You Faster?
Most of us would probably answer yes to that question, although there really isn’t any definitive physiological connection between psychological stress (fear) and premature aging. If you’re looking for a definition of fear, it’s anxiety that’s attached to a specific thing or a specific event or action. The dictionary defines it as an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm. Anxiety is a disproportionate and usually prolonged feeling of fear. Most people with anxiety realise how disproportionate it is. In any event, both fear and anxiety cause stress. It’s important to remember that the effects of life generally and specific stressful events are determined by the reaction and meaning given to the circumstances. Not the stressor itself. We all know research has shown that stress affects us physically. From our own experience, we all know that…
Don’t Let Regrets Keep You from Enjoying the Holidays
As the holiday season is upon us – with friends and families making plans to get together, stores filled to the rafters with gifts to give to loved ones, airports and train-stations jammed with travelers hurrying to their joyful destinations – some may feel lost in all this happy celebration. After all, once we hit 60 or more, some of our family and friends have probably made their transition into the Great Beyond, and however you define that passage, the truth is, we miss them. And with that, some of us may have regrets. Things we left unsaid, harsh words never taken back, choices made we wish we hadn’t. The holidays can feel glum and depressing rather than a time of joy and laughter. Push Regrets Aside You would think that the older we get, the more regrets we would…