As I have gotten older I have been able to use the content of my daily mail as a guide to how old I really am. It hit me the other day when sorting through 10 days mail which had been held for me while I was away.

So, what did I find? I found advertising materials for Senior Living complexes, hospice care insurance, hearing aids, security systems with emergency response capabilities, AARP Health plans, power chairs, etc., etc. By the time I had filed everything in the circular file I was a little down.

Dont get me wrong. Those materials have been showing up in my mail for some time. It was just the accumulation of so many that caused that effect on me.

I am 77 years young, still working and going for my run every morning. I dont run as fast as I used to but I am still running. This has been my routine for years and I will continue until I no longer can. And, this is my point.

Living a long time is not a bonus if you do not have good health. If each day is merely another painful experience, why bother?

I firmly believe that the earlier you create good health practices, the better your chances of living a quality life. I am not advocating any particular system. Figure out what works for you and be persistent. You cant suddenly change your habits at an advanced age and expect to suddenly have great health.

I am really speaking to the youngest of you who are reading this. You can have a great career, beautiful family, good friends and they will make no difference if you lose your health. This includes having regular checkups and listening to your health professionals.

A lot of good health, in my opinion, is mental. Having a purpose that contributes something to others is a key ingredient and keeps us engaged at a high level.

People are always asking me when I am going to retire. My response is this:

œOne day I was looking up the word œretirement in the dictionary. One of the
definitions were, œpreparation for death. Is that what I want my life as a senior
citizen to be about?

There is a thought that most human beings entertain called œsomeday. Someday everything will be worked out, handled, etc. There is no such thing as someday.

You will always have the next problem, issue or concern to deal with. They are yours and you made them up. They will only be gone when they are shoveling dirt on us.

Life is a simple process. You are either learning and growing or you are atrophying. In other words, you are beginning to die.

I dont particularly like tips so all I want to do is identify a few things to consider:

-Create a health plan
-Have a purpose every day
-Find a way to contribute to others
-Stay engaged

Check out Coach Todds latest book œThe Art of Losing, Coaching Athletics and Thriving in a Made-for-TV World on lulu.com or Vervante.com