Aging Well (2)

I hope everyone had a good New Year’s Eve.  We had people over and had a good time.
I must admit our celebrating the New Year is getting earlier and earlier.  It has been NSW time which is an hour before Queensland.  We looked up what scope we have.   We can celebrate it Suva time which is like 10pm here.  The best we could come up with is an island in the Pacific which would see us celebrating it at 8pm.
A couple of days ago I was referencing an article on aging where a guy was asking his dad about it.  I mentioned two points he raised in response to “what is the secret to aging well?’  He said staying alive was a must and not living with a lot of regret, shame, or guilt.
There were three other points I really like he mentioned in response.  What I really find attractive is the practicality of it all.  His third point was “maintain good memories.”  I find it incredible the pictures I see on walls and on the fridges of older people.  They tend to cherish family and good times had with loved ones.  That is not the sole domain of the aged but when a world has shrunk it tends to be a good link with the past.  Walking in the home tends to be a walk down memory lane.
I do like that former good times and associations are remembered.  It seems to be the natural inclination of us all.  When dad was still around, he and my oldest brother would relive golf rounds.  They remembered in vivid detail.  I tend to do that with table tennis wins though they are probably fewer and further between.  I do have a vivid memory of a cricket moment though.  I was bowling to an A Grade opening batsman.  I remember thinking I will bowl this fuller and faster.  His wickets went flying.  I could not believe it and the way he looked at me I do not think he could either.
The thing for me is reliving memories from younger days tends to keep someone younger in mind.  I just need to look at some people that have been battered by life in recent times to see they have aged.  It is the opposite, but to me it helps validate the point of good memories keeping someone younger.
The next point he made was “don’t slow down too much.”  I must admit I have found this one a bemusing challenge.  I know that once my mind is made up, I tend to go like a bull at a gate.  I have had to come to terms with both a stroke and older age.  I still go like a bull at a gate, but for shorter periods.
I totally agree with don’t slow down too much with one proviso.  Know your limits!  To me it is counterproductive to do too much and be cactus.  That is like a best-case scenario.  Worst case scenario is I could do myself an injury.  That one is experience and a trip to the hospital.
I think I will hold off on the last point as I do not believe I could do it justice in just over 100 words.  It is about the importance of relationships.  A biggy me thinks.