There are of course always negative people who say that by definition you get ailments as you get older and the ailments immediately pile up. A confirmation for the people who say it is part of it. Yet there are also many elderly people who do not suffer from any problems. Does it have to do with getting what you expect? In other words, are we talking about the so-called self-fulfilling prophecy here?
The ultimate test
To know whether it is correct, nothing is as effective as doing research and long-term studies have been conducted in Canada, Australia and Italy with the same design (collaborating universities).
People over 65 were followed for a longer period (9.5 years) and provided information about where they stood in the research group in terms of age. Furthermore, they had to be alert with regard to their health and general well-being and were given the assignment to live the life they envisioned when they were younger.
The group is deliberately kept very diverse and that means that after the first interview it is a colorful mixture of fat(er), thin(er), positive people, negative people, sporty , absolutely not sporty, smokers, drinkers, vegetarians, real meat eaters. and created super healthy living people. They have kept track of everything in the form of a kind of diary, which provides interesting information. Moreover, the diary format is so interesting that a book about it will also be published (at least in Canada).
Growing older and then…
Physical ailments
A clear one that applies to > 80% is the combination of thinking (and living according to it) that ailments are part of aging people. These may be difficult but not life-threatening issues. Ailments that in themselves do not really have to affect the way of life or can be remedied quickly. This concerns partly inactive and partly fairly active people (about 24%), but it is striking that the 24% is decreasing rapidly. The main reason given is that it is no longer feasible. Even if the ailments are temporary, it remains an argument for being less active.
It is not shown that there is a link between the negative person who thinks that growing older is by definition declining and being active because you have to. The link itself is easy to make, after all why else would one not become active again after the ailment. Yet it has not been scientifically established.
Of healthy living and positive people, it is striking that this often goes together, only 16% develop ailments that are disturbing. What is then shown is that in almost this entire group the ailments are not experienced as disruptive to their way of life and they quickly get back on track. Even some hospital admissions are braved. This group is also a group that is known as a bon vivant and good food and drinks are part of that. An additional remarkable thing is that this group hardly includes elderly smokers, only 6%.
Thinking ability
Growing older also means declining mental health, or at least that is the trend. However, the group that remains mentally active hardly suffers from it (some tests were taken). A percentage of 91% is typical for this part of the study.
It is mainly the group that is not very active that actually suffers from it (> 72%). The fact that it is linked to aging people cannot be transferred one-to-one. The mind that is hardly used with any depth, even at a younger age, is more likely to decline than the mind that is kept active at any age.
Keeping active is very diverse, while one person plays thinking games or puzzles, the other is an avid reader, preferably in the silence of nature and with a slightly warm sun (44%). But there are also relatively many people who consistently keep up with the news and discuss it and philosophize about life itself (47%). It is also striking that there is still a significant group who remain informed in line with the position(s) they have occupied in their working life (32%).
Feeling good about yourself
Although the skin often becomes somewhat wider, a large group fits comfortably in the skin. This is 92% of the positive and active people and 23% of the negative and often less or not active people are feeling good. Yet there is still a group, about 11% of negative people who feel good about themselves, who still have something to complain about.
What is it all about?
- Something not right in the environment (house or garden)
- Nuisance neighbors
- Few family or friends come over
- Not being able to do anything (due to ailments, environment, etc.)
Possibly inherent to this list is the fact that everyone has done it, except themselves. You can describe it as a form of not taking responsibility for your own life.
The large group who feel comfortable in their own skin have always had an active life, but that means they are not people who have been constantly walking on the tips of their toes. Working hard , but seeking balance, even when they were younger, is an important aspect of this group. At least 85% of this group has this philosophy of life (and likes to propagate it).
Finally
The research shows that a positive active life, physically and mentally, keeps people young and allows them to grow old happily. It’s funny that there is a significant group that does not consider themselves old at all (33%), while the youngest participant was 66 years old (the oldest 86 years old).