Be who you want to be

Old age is not a given.

Some people die young. Others live long and prosper and others die long lingering deaths.

The quality of old age is not as bleak as many of the cartoons I see depict it.

My genes determine some things in my life, but I have more control than I may want to admit.

There are things I know are bad for a body, sunbathing, smoking, overeating, alcoholism.

There are things I know are good for a body, exercise, sleep, proper nutrition, a positive outlook.

If a body wants a body that can survive in tact, or as intact as possible, the balance needs to be on the side of the good things.

I know people who claim they would rather live now and die young than forgo the pleasures of their particular bad habits, but most of them end up recanting when they discover you don't just up and die in a minute or two.  It can take years of misery to die of many bad habits and by the time this realization hits them over the head it is sometimes too late.

I have lots of role models for both sides of this issue.

I'm trying to follow the smart ones.

I will get old.  I will die.  I will eventually have diminished capabilities of some sort, but I'm sure not in any rush.

In the meantime I'm trying to be the person I want to be.