Day 10: I Believe the Seniors Are Our Future

Every day of our life we are given a choice to grow older or grow stronger. Which one will you choose today? God willing, all of us will have a very long and productive life that allows us to see our kids develop gray hair as a result of the stress their kids and grandkids put them through. However, in order to grow old, we must first live well now.

   Most folks pray that they can simply spend the last decades of life living independent, active lives. Yet many are forced into nursing homes or long-term care facilities often against their will. Why? If you think most people are in nursing homes because they are sick or suffering from diminished mental function, you’re as wrong as 2+2=9. The majority of our population is in nursing homes for one simple reason; they no longer have the muscle strength to lift themselves out of a chair sans assistance or even to walk around on their own. Their muscles have grown so weak they can no longer withstand the normal forces of gravity. It is this loss of mobility that prevents our seniors from doing everyday tasks that keep them independent, like shopping, cooking and even taking a bath or shower. This is not the existence God intended for us.

   Unfortunately, Juan Ponce De Leon never found that mystical Fountain of Youth after coming over with Christopher Columbus on his second voyage. However, strength training may be the next best thing. Strength training can prevent and even reverse some of the effects of aging. Traditionally, common perception has been that the loss of strength and muscle mass is a result of the natural aging process. While a certain decrease is to be expected, deterioration of the physical state is as much a result of inactivity as nature. On Day 10 we’ll examine some truths that everyone needs to know in order to grow old gracefully.

About the Author: James Hackley is an author, inspirational speaker, and a philanthropist who earned a B.S. degree in Physics from Longwood College and an M.S. degree in Engineering from the University of Virginia.  He's the founder of Omega Consulting Enterprises, chaplain of a local chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, and faithfully attends Holy & Whole Life Changing Ministries International in Lansdowne, Va. His latest book, Body, Mind & Spirit: The Awakening can be purchased by visiting him at www.jameshackley.com , www.Amazon.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com.