How does one embrace an aging body ?

CB0How does one embrace an aging body ? How indeed. Memories of youth come in the way. Memories of when running was easy and fun. Kicking a ball and running after it was fun. Future held promise and dreams were dreamt. There was a thick shock of hair to be styled, muscles to be exercised, skills to be mastered. Memories were to be made and not to be lived in.

Aging is a reality. To successfully embrace a reality one must accept the reality. With age, death becomes a reality. I, as a Hindu am at a great advantage. I think of time as a circular function. Reincarnation relieves me of the fear of “hell” . Thus Embracing death, the greatest unknown the final reality, does not hold the same fears.

Aging is a reality. How one accepts this reality is the crux of successful aging. At any point in our lives we do not have an idea of the number of days left for us. Creaking joints, failing eyesight and hearing, slowing intellect are all a part of aging. Chronic diseases add to the burden. And yet there is life to be lived, friends to be enjoyed, share the joy of grandchildren, enjoy their antics while letting their parents suffer the trials and tribulations.

Technology has helped in dealing with some of the accompaniment of aging. We can replace joints, lens in the eye, hearing aids have come to the rescue. Of course they are not as good as the original but they make you functional. To exploit their potential a certain amount of discipline is required. Same holds true for successfully managing the chronic problems one acquires with age. Embracing age is what gives us the fortitude to maintain that discipline and maintain a functional quality of life.

Thus not fearing death allows you to live fully, embrace aging as a function of time. The body puts limits but joyous living is a function of the mind beyond the limits of time. Embracing aging is our final ode to a life lived.

Written by Dr. Satish Chawla MD, FACP, AIIMS, who is a retired Geriatric Physician from the United States Navy. He is an expert in geriatric medicine, and on Samvedna’s panel of experts.

Samvedna Senior Care was set up in 2013 with the aim of providing services for active ageing and dementia care in Delhi NCR.

We set up the Samvedna Senior Care Foundation in December 2016 to promote active ageing through senior centres, and events and workshops on subjects like learning smartphones, interpersonal relationships and more. We bring together dementia caregivers through a support group and have a programme for seniors with early dementia, depression or other minor cognitive impairments.

All our counsellors are psychologists or gerontologists.

Great Times Club, which is a part of the Samvedna Senior Care Foundation, is our social and recreational club in Sector 57, Gurgaon, for members 55 years and above.Its a place where members come to get fit, meet like minded people and share their life experiences and give back to the community.

Activities at the club include fitness exercises, group meditation, mind stimulation, tambola, dancing, book reviews, movies, community outreach, and talks on health management. The club has a library, computer room, visits by physiotherapists and doctors, access to board games and cards, a fully functional pantry with healthy and affordable snacks and tea and coffee on the house.

There are special discounts for group memberships. The club is open Monday-Friday, 11am to 2pm.There are special classes for yoga, smart phones, computers, spoken english, dance, music and painting. Call Great Times Club at 9818421446, 0124-4229659.

Know more here – Great Times Club

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