Aging is often seen as a gradual decline, the fading of hopes and ambitions, and the acceptance of infirmity. However, psychologist Dr. Hideki Wada doesn’t just offer a list of health tips but goes deeper. He encourages the elderly to live boldly and joyfully, even in the final stages of life, inspiring us to embrace the coming years with hope and happiness. With over 30 years of experience caring for elderly patients and helping them navigate physical decline and emotional challenges, Dr. Wada has compiled his insights into a book titled “The Eighty-Year Wall.” Dr. Wada summarizes his experiences in 44 actionable scientific facts.
However, I will keep them brief so they are easy to remember and sufficient to change our outlook on the years to come. After 70, a period of diminished physical independence often begins, and the risk of social isolation increases.
Instead of obsessing over prevention and restriction, Dr. Wada advocates living joyfully, comfortably, and independently. He recommends that we not just stay alive, but live well. Here are some tips from the book:
1. Keep moving. Stillness, sitting, and excessive sleeping are harmful.
2. Take a deep breath when angry.
3. Get enough exercise to avoid stiffness.
4. Always drink more water when using air conditioning in the summer.
5. Don’t hesitate to use diapers if it helps increase your mobility. The fear of needing the bathroom unexpectedly can confine us to a limited range.
6. The more you chew, the more mentally and physically active you become.
7. Memory loss is not caused by aging but by a lack of brain use.
8. There is no need to overuse medications.
9. There is no need to unnecessarily lower your blood pressure and blood sugar.
10. Loneliness is not just a feeling, but a necessary time to spend quietly with yourself.
11. Laziness is not a flaw.
12. Do what you enjoy, not what others expect.
13. Innate desires, including sexual ones, remain even in old age.
14. Do not stay home all the time under any circumstances.
15. Eat what you like; slight obesity is preferable.
16. Do what you love and perform all movements with caution.
17. Avoid befriending people you don’t like.
18. Don’t watch TV all the time.
19. Instead of fighting illness, learn to coexist with it.
20. Eat fresh fruits and salads.
21. Showering should not take more than 10 minutes.
22. If you can’t sleep, don’t force yourself to go to bed.
23. Enjoyable activities increase brain activity.
24. Express your feelings and don’t overthink.
25. Find a family doctor as soon as possible.
26. Don’t be impatient or pushy. Being old means you have courage, which is a good thing.
27. It’s okay to change your mind sometimes.
28. If you stop learning, you age faster.
29. The harder something is, the more interesting it becomes.
30. Sunbathing brings happiness.
31. Do what benefits others.
32. Spend your day at ease.
33. Desires are the secret to a long life.
34. Live happily.
35. Breathe with ease.
36. Accept everything calmly.
37. Cheerful people are loved by everyone.
38. Smiling brings good luck.
Aging is a gift. With the right perspective and daily habits, the years after 60 can be some of the most fruitful of your life. --- After honestly reviewing the points above, I found that I follow at least 35 of them. I don’t like lying in the sun, wearing diapers, or breathing deeply. Still, I recommend reading the book carefully.
By Ahmad alsarraf email: [email protected]
