Inactivity, is the big one. Weight is the next one. Laziness is the 3rd one. Improper diet the 4th one. Looking young takes work. Physical activity, staying trim and toned, taking care of your hair, teeth and skin. You can't wait till your 50's to start, you have to begin in your 20's and 30's and maintain a healthy workout routine and healthy eating habits, and a positive outlook on life. Young looking people are generally happy, athletic people and it shows.
A prime example is a man I met in a store last year. We were both standing at the counter to be waited on. The man was buying a pack of cigarettes. Joking around I said to the man, "You know those things aren't good for your health." To which he replied, "Miss at my age I'm not going to worry about it." I thought well he looks mid 60's, thin, in good shape, so who am I to argue. Mind you, the girl behind the counter is 42, I'm 60, and we're thinking ok, he looks good for his age. So then to be a smart ass, I said, "You know if you quit smoking you could probably live another 20 or 30 years in good health." The man burst out in laughter, which left us both stymied as to this reaction. He then said, "Miss I don't really know if I want to live another 20 or 30 years." And I went, "Say what?" And she said. "Are you kidding?" And we both looked at each other like, what is wrong with this man?!!!
Then he asked us to guess his age. And she goes, "Well first how old do you think I am?" He says, oh about 40, give or take a year or two. So then I asked, how old do you think I am? He goes about the same age as her. So thinking I'd show him, I said, well you are way off on my age! (I have always been taken for 15 to 20 years younger then what I actually am, so I wasn't surprized) but then we said OK, now it's your turn, HOW OLD are YOU. What he said next dropped us both in our tracks!!! The man was 93 years old!!!!!! Both of us almost dropped our teeth on the spot!!!! I of course didn't believe him and neither did she, so we made him show us his drivers license. The man was 93 years OLD, (or YOUNG, whichever you choose) 93!!!! Absolutely UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!! Honestly, the man did not look a day over 65. NO JOKE!!! And he's close to 100 years OLD!!!!!
So my next question was, how???? And you smoke!! I thought smoking was suppossed to age you prematurely and cut 10 years off your life? (he said his doctor asked him to quit 30 years ago and gave up asking 10 years ago) He said he smokes in moderation, less then a pack a day and he does everything else in moderation, food, liquior, whatever. He said he has always excersized daily, and has a positive outlook on life. He said he lost his wife years eariler and almost all of his friends, and a lot of his family, (Gee at 93, was I surprized?)but has maintained a positive outlook on life. He said he ENJOYS every day he is given and has few regrets, and he doesn't look back, but forward.
I wish I would have paid more attention to his name, and asked a few more questions, but when we found out he was 93, we were too shell shocked to pay closer attention. I may not remember his name, but I will always remember meeting the man and what he said. To this day that man is my HERO, and I take to heart everything he said. He is living proof that your attitude towards life and how you want to live it make all the difference in the world. I wouldn't be surprized if he lives to be a 120, which if he lived another 20 years he'd almost make it.
The man left a positive influence on me as to why some people get old and look old, and why some seem ageless. ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE!!! And I think that's the bottom line!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
