As we get older we gradually weaken and lose some or a
lot of our ability to do things. There are two reasons for
this deterioration and they are the process of aging and the
decline in usage of our abilities.
Any power, strength, faculty or ability that we possess
as human beings, mental or physical, can be strengthened by
repetition and increased usage. Conversely, the opposite
occurs when we do just the opposite and stop using our
abilities. When our faculties are relieved from being needed
and required to function and are no longer used the body
realizes this and allows something to happen called
"atrophy" which comes from the Greek for "shrinking". This
results in a loss of function. It happens to the physical
such as strength, reflexes, balance, stamina, coordination,
etc. and the mental such as arithmetic, percentages,
planning, problem solving decision-making, judgment, etc.
While going through life we drop doing things one by
one, especially the physical, while we are caught up in
having too much to do. The biggest change comes when we
retire at which time we no longer have to use our mental
faculties as well as the physical ones. If we allow
ourselves to sink into an inactive state we can end up in a
sorry state in later life and we've all seen examples of
this. Our powers do "atrophy".
We can do something about this. Remember the two
reasons for deterioration: the process of aging and the
decrease in usage. The process of aging cannot be stopped
but perhaps it can be slowed. The loss of abilities due to
decreased usage is where we can really make a difference.
First we address the easiest part, the physical.
Institute a good aerobic exercise program consisting of 45
minutes of walking that benefits heart and lungs as well as
muscles. Add to this a 20-minute weight lifting regimen for
upper body and a few calisthenics and you should be fine.
The more difficult part is the mental decline. I see
articles touting the measurable improvement resulting from
mental "calisthenics" such as going through program of
exercises designed to use mental functions. It seems a
little lame to me. I think it's better to involve yourself
in doing things that require the use of mental powers like
part time jobs, an officer of various clubs and service
organizations, computer and internet, writing letters to the
editor, an online business and many things that are
available. These will require the use of mental faculties
and keep them strong and limber.
These activities should require you to be putting
something on the line where the outcome is in doubt and
depends on your successful completion of the task or project
thus generating a degree of anxiety. Your best mental
faculties are then called into play.
If you have enough of these activities you find
yourself waking up in the morning and thinking, "I've gotta
hustle" to get things done or I'll fall behind or fail. This
also generates a level of anxiety that is communicated down
into the deepest levels of bodily functioning where
primitive processes such as defense against infection,
immune system functioning, resisting cancerous changes,
slowing cell breakdown and the aging process and resistance
to deterioration in general are going on. These processes
are galvanized in a positive way to help slow these negative
effects.
This can go a long way towards prolonging our
lives, keeping us healthy and maintaining us as capable
functioning persons deep into old age.
End article.
About the Author
Dr. Moloney retired from Family Practice several years ago. He has retained his lifelong interest in music and teaching and has written a book explaining and simplifying music.
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www.musicsimplified.com/http:/
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