I have an absolutely amazing friend from the days when I worked at Women in Mission and Ministry at the Episcopal Church Center. Nancy Grandfield is several decades older than I am, and, not to reveal her actual age then or now, she was "well up there" when we went to India several years ago (on a personal pilgrimage for once, rather than a work-related trip).
"How do you manage to stay so young?" I asked her as we rode from the airport to the ashram, a trip of three hours. It was the middle of the night, there were no apparent restrooms along the way, our driver spoke no English nor we Tamil, and I was becoming desperate two hours away from our destination.
"Stop complaining!" she exclaimed. "You asked me how I stay young; well, one way is to stop complaining." "But I'm ready to explode!" I whined, feeling that my plight merited special consideration. There was no dissuading her. No matter the condition of my bladder, I should stop complaining about it.
I did, and realized later that it took my mind off of my situation, which made it so much more bearable. (I did finally manage to find a place in the bushes when the driver got lost and had to stop for directions, but I was startled to look up from my hiding place behind the bushes and see three enormous pigs ambling straight towards me. They were friendly, it turned out, and I was positively giddy as I greeted them with an empty bladder!)
Later Nancy added to her advice for me. "Keep doing all the things you've always wanted to do. Don't start saying, 'I'm getting too old to do that now.'" Nancy and her husband Max continue to travel to fascinating places all over the world, as their circumstances permit, often doing work for the church.
Nancy is now more than a decade older than when we went to India, and Max just turned 90 (he had a very public 90th birthday party, so I think it's okay to reveal his age!). Nancy and Max have barely slowed down. In addition to traveling they go regularly to the ballet and symphony, often do volunteer church work, and keep a demanding schedule full of other interesting activities.
One last piece of wisdom, from among all that Nancy imparted to me, is to keep moving physically. Nancy goes to the gym when possible, and when not, she keeps her body moving with all of her other activities. She and Max also eat simply, and not too much. They have a little wine with supper and afterwards read the latest books, watch their favorite shows or keep up with their family and friends by email and Facebook. I spent a few days with them last month in California, and got recharged about exercising, eating simply, and continuing to follow my dreams. I was also reminded to stop complaining! I love you, Nancy and Max.
[Helena Marie, CHS]