Chattanooga Pulse

Written by Dr. Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 19:18

Hmm…was that a whiff of springtime in the air, or just our collective unconscious wish for warmth? Have you been eager to shed the flannels for the silks? “Enough with the winter coats, already…I want to get back to my T-shirts and shorts!” Ahh…we’re a bit spoiled here in the South. Personally, I really enjoy winter as the long summer’s counterpart. I wouldn’t even mind a bit more snow to pretty things up a bit. And let’s be honest: The summers down here are long!

Besides, there can be something quite comforting to cloudy, chilly days and cold, electric-blanket nights that lets us hunker down for some quiet warmth-physically sure, but also emotionally.

But we’ve got a gorgeous spring to look forward to, with the abundant blooms (ah-choo!) of Chattanooga earning this Scenic City’s moniker. And before that-Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, for some a time of amore, for others, a time to wage war on Hallmark.

Aside from sig-other status, if you’re like me, the approach of seasonal change often leads to thoughts about the seasons of life. For instance, a man’s body begins to undergo changes more rapidly once he’s in his thirties. Thus the need for added gym time-ugh-and revising the vitamin regimen and doctor appointments. For some of us, this begins the Where Did My Hair Go? years. And women, at a certain season, know signs of their hormonal evolution will be making appearances, giving rise to thoughts of how best to walk through the emotional and physical portal toward (dare I say it?) middle age. I have a friend who decided she hit middle age on her 55th birthday. I just hope I’m around to see that 110th birthday she’s counting on.

Some people look at these seasonal life changes with apprehension, frustration, and fear. But many look toward change with hope and anticipation of the newness that lies ahead, physical discomforts (and hair loss) be damned! I’m working toward membership in the latter group myself.

When it comes to the seasons of life, I’m not so sure about living longer. I vote for living better, at every stage of life. Fortunately, smart ideas for living a longer life turn out to be the same as for living a better, higher-quality life. So whichever way you look at it, I want to offer you five tips that can help no matter what season of life you’re in:

1. Be naturally active. Typically, when we think about living longer or staying younger, our first step is often about supplements and diets. Actually, the best first step is natural, easy and free. Whatever activities you enjoy doing, do. You’ll stick with the things you love, while you might not stick to exercise that feels like a chore. Walking, gardening, yoga, hiking, biking, swimming…if you like it, do it.

2. You’ve read in this column numerous times: Hang with the people who love and accept you unconditionally. At both special times (such as holidays and birthdays) and plain ol’ unspecial times, if your life is filled with like-minded good friends, then your fellowship is rich and your self-esteem is nurtured.

3. Shift your food focus. For some of us this is easier said than done. But the idea is to eat smart, reduce calories (with every passing decade), drink lots of water, and watch out for that processed white stuff: sugar and flour. Sure, Paula Deen’s way is awfully comforting. But you’ve got to find some balance to those lard-laden recipes if you desire a high-quality, artery-clear life.

4. Time for you, time for others. Again, balance. Being a big believer in helping those less fortunate every chance we get, I agree with Jimmy Carter who once said that volunteerism will save this country. But the trick is to pay attention to your own needs first, so that you are filled up enough to be able to care for the needs of others. Whether you’re raising a child, caring for an elderly relative, or volunteering for a good cause, it helps to remember: The first task of the heart is to pump blood to itself.

5. Have a sense of purpose. When you wake up in the morning, do you look forward to your day, or begin it with a sense of dread? These two very different beginnings to your day will lead to two very different qualities of life. I encourage you to evolve in your spirituality, find something you love to do, and let some bliss enter your day. As your outlook changes, your positive attitude becomes contagious; it overflows and spills out to everyone around you.

Until next week, from the late, great comic George Carlin: “We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”