How To Live Vibrantly Into Your 90's

I’ll turn 70 in a couple of months, and I’ve said for a long time now that I want to live well into my 90’s; “Rockin’ on my front porch snappin’ pole beans.”  This is an image of my grandma in Tennessee I’ve held onto since my childhood. That’s my vision I have for myself too - keeping it simple and keeping on with things.

So that’s the backstory to an aha moment I had the other day. On one of my sporadic morning walks, I allowed myself to contemplate this vision in a very detailed way. What would a day in Polly’s 90+ year old self look like?

I’d wake up at 6:00 a.m., drink my glass of water and take my morning walk.  Back home I would get down on the floor and stretch, and be able to get back up!  Cup of tea with sprouted grain sourdough toast and a schmeer of grass-fed butter or almond butter (I told you I got into the details here).  My son would come by for a morning kiss on the cheek (since I’m living in a seperate bungalow on their property and this is a dreamy vision, after all) before he headed off for his day.

I would then go out and tend to my raised bed garden of herbs, veggies and flowers.  After scrubbing my beautifully old wrinkly hands clean I would then settle into whatever project I have going on at the time: writing, collaging, knitting, painting, …

Lunch is still as healthy as always: homemade soups, veggie omelets, brown rice tofu bowls. I’ve let green leafy salads go. I’ve had more than enough of those over the years.

Twice per week my daughter would take me to the Senior Friendship Center for their activities and socializing.  

A couple of days per week I am visited by friends, and we sit out on my porch and rock and drink kombucha and laugh and laugh.

Nap time.  Yes, friends can still wear me out.

Then my grandchildren come for a visit after school, and we have lemonade and talk about their day and work a little on the book we are writing together.

Most nights I bring a side dish to the main house for dinner with the fam, including my other son and his sweet family and on other nights I stay home and have Salted Caramel Gelato and watch my favorite shows.

Time to don my granny gown (of course) and crawl into bed where I write my thoughts and gratitudes of the day and then slip into quiet slumber. Ahhhhh...

Like I said, I let myself get into the nitty gritty details here and as I did so I could feel myself becoming sooo happy and excited for this future me!  Really, truly, I was smiling ear to ear thinking about a ‘day in the life’ in my 90s!

Then it hit.

Polly, darling, if you want this so badly, if you really want to make this be a reality for future you YOU’VE GOT TO START THOSE BEHAVIORS RIGHT NOW! Because let’s be real, I’m never going to be able to get down on the floor to stretch and get back up if I don’t create that habit in my life and body right now! Like today. Seriously.  Because it won’t get easier the longer I wait.  Don’t put it off thinking that your 90’s is oh-so far away.  They used to be but they’re not now. If I start these behaviors now, think what 20 years of walking, stretching, strength training, eating clean, staying interested and socializing will feel like when you reach that age!  Just as I imagined it, I imagine.

I literally felt like it smacked me in the face – the reality that what I really, really want for my future self can absolutely happen …. IF AND ONLY IF I implement those behaviors today!

And I’m very grateful to be able to say that I’m pretty much doing all those good disciplines already and have been for decades.  I know that’s why I feel so good at the age I am today. But I’m not doing them consistently. So that’s what needs to change.  Consistency with these small changes will get me to where I want to be. Lord willing and the creek don’t rise!

I’m a list maker so here’s my physical Daily Disciplines for 90+ Years Polly list:

·      Set alarm for 6:30

·      Walk (at least 20 minutes)

·      Stretch

·      Functional strength training (3 X p/week)

So I ask you – how do you visualize yourself in your golden years? 

Get clear about it. Get specific and visualize what you want to do and how you want to feel at whatever age you want to get to. Then ask yourself - is what I’m doing on a daily basis setting me on a trajectory for that healthy, happy me?

Some of us might be starting from square one, some of us might already be living these healthy habits. Wherever it is you fall on this spectrum, I’m giving you a provocation: to give future, older you more thought. Then start today with just one thing that will set you on that path.

You deserve to live a long, loving, happy and healthy life! Now, ignite that inner spark, get in that driver’s seat and make it happen!

And please come visit me on my front porch … and don’t forget the pole beans!