And there're medical experts who believe that the causes of aging have cures; they simply haven't been found yet.
Well, who can blame us? Given a choice, we'd all want to stay youthful forever. Impossible... but that's not going to stop us.
The good news is... gerontologists do claim that 70 percent of the aging process is controllable with the right lifestyle choices. The traditional aging process that our society has adopted unnecessarily relegates middle-aged people to early decline.
Aging is inevitable but getting old is strictly an option. You don't have to buy into society's model for how people age. Take charge of your life and refuse to shrink into the typical fossilised old age we've come to accept as normal.
Observe old people. What is it about their "oldness" you would like to avoid? How strong and flexible are you, mentally and physically?
Keep and improve what you can, while you can! You know, youth makes us arrogant.
Everyday we look into the mirror and see a seemingly unchanging image. We like what we see, so we do nothing. By the time we start worrying, it might be too late.
Also, plan your financial future. Health is paramount, but wealth helps a great deal.
And avoid the ultimate social disease. It's called retirement. Once you internalise that you are no longer productive, that you no longer have goals, decline sets in very quickly.
Everything slows - movement, reaction time, thinking, walking, talking.
The mind and body go into a shutdown mode in preparation for the final event - death. So, even if you stop working, continue contributing and being useful. Re-wire your life to embrace new activities and ambitions.
Immortality might still a pipe dream or a nightmare, depending on how you look at it but it's in our best interest to try to stay young and productive for as long as we can.
Reach out and savour the best of life!
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
