Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Do You Want to be a “Young” Senior Citizen

I WANT TO BE A YOUNG SENIOR CITIZEN

I am almost 60 years old 
– in a few days – on the 12th of September 2016 – it will be my 60th Birthday – and – I will enter the 61st year of my life.

Am I old...? 

Or 
 am I young?

Well 
 you may say that I am old  but  I still feel that I am a young boy. 

You may not agree with me 
 but  I feel that it is better to be immature rather than mature 

There is a saying:


“YOU ARE AS OLD AS YOU FEEL” 

That is why there are “young senior citizens and “old senior citizens

Soon 
 I will be officially a Senior Citizen. 

Surely  I would like to be a “young senior citizen

How about you...?

Here is a piece I wrote around 6 years ago in my blog on the subject titled 
HOW TO REMAIN YOUNG AND YOUTHFUL FOREVER

Do tell me if you like it - I look forward to your comments. 

And hey 
 dont forget to wish me a Happy Birthday on the 12th of September when I cross the threshold of senior citizenship.

HOW TO BE A YOUNG SENIOR CITIZEN 
The Ultimate Anti-Ageing Formula
Zest for Living and Passion for Learning
By
VIKRAM KARVE 

Part 1 – DO WANT TO BE A “YOUNG” SENIOR CITIZEN...?

There are a number of retired senior citizens in the colony where I live in Pune. 

Yes  there are still large numbers of pensioners living all over Pune  though Pune is no longer a pensioners’ paradise.

I have noticed one intriguing thing. 

Though most are of these persons are of the same chronological age  some are “young” – and  some are “old”

Yes  some senior citizens appear young  and  some seem old.

Ater all  your age is what you feel. 


Part 2 ANTI AGEING FORMULA

By observing senior citizens for many years I have discovered this 
anti ageing formula for remaining young: 

ZEST FOR LIVING and PASSION FOR LEARNING is the best anti-ageing recipe that keeps you young forever.

This is the true elixir of life.

Look around you 
 and you will see what I mean. 

There are many oldie-goldies who are living life to the fullest and are always eager to learn new things.

On the other hand – there are many old people who have no “juice” left in them – as seem to have lost the spirit to enjoy learning – and do not have the enthusiasm to relish the pleasures of life to their utmost.

I know a “young” senior citizen who 
 after retirement from the Army  started learning classical music from the scratch.

He enjoyed studying for 10 years till he completed his sangeet alankar.

He lived life to the fullest in true epicurean style – good food, music, concerts, plays, movies, travel, tourism, picnics, swimming, trekking, playing with his dogs, social work etc.

You name it – he did it. 

This young-at-heart senior citizen lived a delightfully active life – he loved the company of youngsters and he had the enthusiasm and energy of a child.

Even in his late 70s he seemed “younger” than those senior citizens who were chronologically many years his junior.

His zest for life and passion for knowledge that kept him healthy, happy and youthful.

When he passed away nearing the age 80 – I am sure he was still feeling young. 

Nowadays – technology has made it easier for senior citizens to remain young

With the proliferation of internet and smartphones – you can enjoy moments exploring the mysteries of the web, learning new things and latest technologies.

You can actively blog with passionate fervour.

You can engage with with gusto in all sorts of learning activites, creative writing, surfing, social networking, making virtual friends, teaching music.

Yes – you can experience the truism: variety is the spice of life..

Remember  you are as old as you feel  not as old as you look  and certainly not as “old” as your chronologically age says you are. 

It is in your hands to forever remain a “young” senior citizen.

I will end this part with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi:

Live as if you are going to die tomorrow
Learn as if you are going to live forever

It is breathtakingly simple to remain young forever. 

It is all in the mind.


Part 3 HOW TO FEEL YOUNG AND YOUTHFUL 

For feeling youthful and yound – it is your mental age that matters – and – you should feel mentally young even if you are physically old.

Here are some tips on how to feel mental young and forget your chronological age.  


1. SPEND TIME IN THE COMPANY OF YOUNG HAPPY PEOPLE

It is better to spend your time with cheerful younsters – who are enjoying life in the present. 

Why make yourself miserable in the company of pessimistic, gloomy, cynical old-fogies  who keep living in the past  carping and complaining about the present  and – speculating and worrying about the future

In today’s world – if your children (and youngsters of the next generation) have migrated abroad – or – live elsewhere – you may not have younsters around you.

In such cases – the best substitute is to have young online friends in the virtual world – so why not interact with young people on the internet – by being active on the Social Media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/WhatsApp etc) – and – engaging in activities like Blogging etc.

Of course – face-to-face relationships are better – but when these are not feasible – the best alternative is to have good online relationships. 

Also – many online friendships with youngsters may transform into offline interactions – and – you can have enjoyable meets with youngsters with common interests like food, literature, blogging etc.

I love attending blogger meets and literary fests where I can interact with my online friends. 

I boast to my wife that in my old age – I have more girlfriends than I had in my younger days – of course – now – all my girlfriends are online girlfriends”... 

At my age – it is difficult for me to have young offline girlfriends

Also – many of my online girlfriends are quite hesitant to come out with me on offline dates”.

Maybe – the young girls feel embarassed to be seen in public dating an old fogie” like me – and they feel more comfortable having an online “friendship” with me. 

But – that doesn’t matter. 

Even interacting with youngsters on the social media makes you feel young and cheerful.

Teaching and mentoring youngsters (never give unsolicited advice or moral lectures) – offline and online  is rewarding and good too – I love to teach  as I enjoy the company of cheerful motivated young students and this keeps me young and enthisuastic about learning too.


2. GET A PET DOG 

Another useful anti-aging technique is to get a pet dog and enjoy playing with your dog. 

Pet parenting and your pet dog's antics and will keep you happily occupied, cheerful and healthy, besides ensuring regular exercise as your pet dog will ensure you take him out on walks at least twice a day. 

There is nothing more joyful than playing with your dog and talking to him. 

A dog always remains young at heart, and if you play and talk to your dog, you too will remain young at heart.

Playing with my dog Sherry made me feel really young and energetic. 

A dog will bring out the child in you. 

A pet will keep you active, happy, young and youthful. 

(Sadly – my pet dog Sherry passed away one and a half years ago. She had really kept me mentally young and physically fit)


3. RE-DISCOVER YOUR CHILDLIKE ENTHUSIASM 

Get rid of the “Auld Lang Syne” complex. 

Stop reminiscing about the good old days”.

Start living it up every day doing whatever you like with zest and a passion to learn new things like Blogging, Tweeting, Social Networking  making real friends and virtual friends with common interests and passions  exploring the mysteries internet and enjoying the benefits of information technology. 

Yes  keeping yourself uptodate and abreast of the latest technologies keeps you mentally stimulated. 

Use technology effectively to keep young – you must have the latest smartphone, good laptop and modern gadgets

You must Blog  you must Tweet – you must engage on WhatsApp – you must upload pictures on Instagram – and  you must be active on Social Networking sites like Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn etc.


4. RE-DISCOVER YOUR YOUTHFUL ROMANTIC MISCHIEVOUS SIDE

Become “naughty” once again.

Have fun and discover the beauty and romance of life. 

Why not harmlessfly flirt a bit...? 

Remember that the moment you stop appreciating and being attracted to beauty  you have become “old – and life is not worth living. 

Yes  there is a saying that  the day you lose interest in good food and stop appreciating beautiful women (or handsome men) – you become an old man (woman).


5. LEARN NEW THINGS, DEVELOP NEW HOBBIES AND NURTURE YOUR CREATIVE INTERESTS

Try to have a positive attitude and optimistic temperament – keep learning new things  nurture your creative interests, hobbies  exercise, play games/ports, travel, eat out, see movies – do whatever you enjoy doing and have a ball.

Explore your creative side. 

Discovering new aspects of your creativity  and passionately nurturing your talents/interests – it works wonders for your health and happiness.

Keep learning new things  imbibe the latest technologies  and avoid becoming obsolescent or obsolete.


6. TRY TO BE IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF POSITIVE VIBES

Try your best to be in an environment of feel-good happy Positive Vibes.

Avoid people, places and activities which generate Negative Vibes in you. 

Do not waste your time reminiscing and regretting the past  or – speculating and worrying about the future. 

In fact  never think of the past or future.

You must live in the present – one day at a time – and – think only of TODAY.

And  most importantly  you must ensure that the present moment is a happy one

For this  positive vibes are the key to making you feel good, cheerful and happy, here and now. 


ANTI-AGEING FORMULA IN A NUTSHELL

To sum up  if you want to remain young and youthful forever  all you have got to do is that  – you must have a ZEST FOR LIVING and PASSION FOR LEARNING

First thing in the morning 
 the moment you get up  recite your new Art of Living Motto:

“Live as if you are going to die tomorrow  Learn as if you are going to live forever...”

Dear Reader: I wish you eternal youth  may you remain young forever with a Zest for Living and a Passion for Learning.

(Well – I am trying my best to practice what I preach – and – I am sure you will try too)

So Cheer Up and Live it Up...!!! 

VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 
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Disclaimer:
1. These are my personal views. Please do your own due diligence while applying these tips.
2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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