25.02.12 / Uncategorized / Author: lsteadman / Comments Off
Recently, I gave my brother a ride to Phoenix, Arizona, about 85 miles south of his home in Prescott Valley, for a legal appointment with a judge. He has a disability and is applying for government assistance, which has to be approved by the courts. After the appointment, he came out of the government building and we talked a few minutes outside the car in the parking lot. (The judge’s decision will be mailed to him in a few weeks.) We were the only ones present and he make the rhetorical question to me, “How did we get so old?” I thought for moment, then responded, “You know, I have met many people five to ten years younger than I am who look as though they were five to ten years older than I am!” My brother is 60; I am 63. Although I was not thinking of it at the time, probably because I knew that he would not be offended, my comment also applied to him! My circumstances, lifestyle, habits, education and choices in life were and are significantly different than my brother’s. What is the point? Your individual choices in life make all the difference in the quality of your life.
I am far from perfect and have made many poor choices in life. However, when life presented me with the really critical ones, I tried my best to make the best ones. Here are some of those choices.
Alcohol
As a young boy, not more than 10 to 12 years old, I distinctly remember telling my Dad, “I will never drink alcohol, coffee or tea all the days of my life.” Additionally, I wrote that on a piece of paper and gave it to Dad, which he carried in his wallet all the remaining days of his life. And, with the exception of just tasting them, or occasionally being polite with coffee or tea at social gatherings, I have remained true to that pledge. In fact, I never acquired a taste for any of them and to this day do not even like coffee flavored ice cream, although I love all other flavors, except pistachio. (My wife says, “The only reason you hate it is because it is green.” And she may be right.)
Education
Dad and mom said I should go to college. Other relatives, teachers, counselors and others who I regarded as “successful” and productive members of society (public officials, police officers, teachers, scientists, pilots and other professionals) almost all went to college. Plus, many of my relatives, on my Dad’s side especially, held up their college education, and that of their children (my cousins), as a “badge of honor” – one which, they seemed to believe, I would be a “fool” to pass up! So I chose to go to college, even eventually obtaining a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
Marriage
The pastor conducting our marriage had me, and my wife to be, repeat some vows, including the parts “… promise to love, honor and cherish… in good times and bad, in sickness and in health… till death do us part.” And, I have chosen to honor those vows to my wife. Today, I still have the same wife, plus three children, 11 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Salvation Through Jesus Christ
I also made the choice to live for Him all the days of my life. (See my testimony at “The Way, The Truth and The Life.”) I consider this the most important choice in life. And neither my Lord, my church, or my pastor have ever given me any reason to regret that decision, made over 30 years ago; additionally, all three children and many of the grandchildren have also gained salvation through Jesus Christ, as did my wife 10 years before our marriage.
Old?
No, I don’t think of myself as “old.” Although I can no longer do the physical activities I used to, I still do many of them, which include regular physical exercising (another major choice, made as a freshman in college), eating a balanced diet, serving the Lord and enjoying life. Sadly, many people over 60, including my brother, have never made any of the above decisions. But fortunately, he and you can change that today! Start with Salvation; and the others will come so much more easily! Do it today!
Thank you for reading!
18.02.12 / Uncategorized / Author: lsteadman / Comments Off
This week’s article was inspired by a recent Pentecostal pastor’s sermon on “The Heart.” Numerous fascinating facts and examples of men and women “storing their lives in their hearts” were given and explained. In later articles, we will site scientific examples and documentation. For now, we just want to describe how men and women actually “think in their hearts”!
Did you know that there are more neurons, specialized impulse-conducting cells in the nervous system, in the human heart than in the entire cerebral cortex of the brain? Here is an example of how a person can live without a brain, but not without a heart. This may provide a new dimension to forensic psychology.
Heart To Heart
Recently, an elderly couple celebrated 72 years of marriage. They had married at a young age and did everything together, even though their personalities were quite different. After a serious car accident, they both were taken to the hospital. In ICU (Intensive Care Unit), the family explained to the hospital staff that the couple were very close and always wanted to be together. They arranged for the man and woman to be in the same ICU room, where they actually held hands. A few hours later the elderly man was declared “brain dead,” as his brain waves could no longer be detected. However, the couple still clasped each other’s hands. Doctors explained to the family that the woman’s heart was sending signals to the man’s heart to keep it beating. This went on for an hour, when finally the man’s heart stopped. The woman lived for about another hour before her heart also stopped beating.
Here is another example.
Storing A Life In A Heart
A man committed suicide after 12 years of marriage. He was an organ donor. His heart was put in another man, the transplant was successful and shortly afterward the man wanted to thank the family of the donor; so he arranged to meet the donor’s family. He got to know the widow very well and fell in love with her. Shortly they were married. After exactly twelve years of marriage, the man committed suicide.
An here is still another one.
Memories In A Heart
A forty-two year old man was killed and donated his heart, which was transplanted into the chest of a seventeen year old girl. When the girl woke after the transplant she had a strong craving for a beer, even though she had never drank before. Later the family of the man was contacted and asked if the man ever drank; they said no, but the man’s sister said he secretly did have a drinking problem and loved beer. It happened to be the day of the young girl’s birthday; and a large chocolate birthday cake was prepared. The young girl had never really liked chocolate, but ate the cake and remarked that it was the best tasting cake she had ever eaten. Upon questioning the family of the forty-two year old man, it was discovered that the man who donated the heart loved chocolate.
“Keep Your Heart With All Diligence”
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life.” Thus, keeping you heart right is more than just spiritual. Affection, longevity, memories and more are all stored in the heart. It can mean much more than simply a method of supplying blood to the body.
Thank you for reading.
11.02.12 / Uncategorized / Author: lsteadman / Comments Off
In an article dated January 2011 in the New York Post entitled “Obama’s end-of-life bungling” by Jim Towy, and re-posted on their website in February 2012, the issue of government funded doctor/patient counseling on end-of-life care options during annual visits was discussed. Mr. Towy was a senior advisor to President George W. Bush and founder of Aging With Dignity, a national non-profit organization dedicated to helping families discuss end-of-life care.
No Place In Politics
Is there a place for this in politics? Absolutely not! There is sanctity in the doctor/patient discussions; and this should never be violated by “playing politics.” In no situation should government at any level be mandating, funding, supporting or even expressing an opinion in an official government release on the subject of doctor/patient discussions.
Hopefully, the Obama Administrations has learned its lesson. And the issue will not even be brought up during the 2012 pre-election debates and discussions, except in passing and then only in support of leaving doctor/patient discussions unhindered, uninfluenced and completely private and isolated from any government intervention.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line in the article was this. “When it comes to end-of-life care policy, there are no substitutes for transparency, full disclosure and opportunity for faith communities, disability rights groups and other elder organizations to have input in the process.” Mr. Towy goes on to say that otherwise there will be “fear” that the government is promoting such discussions to eventually reduce the costs of keeping the elderly alive, which obviously would be political suicide for anyone seeking office. (Hopefully, this is an accurate paraphrase of Mr. Towy’s statement.)
There are delicate issues, but few more delicate than this. Even the abortion issue is not as volatile. Either a fetus is a human being or not; it is pretty black and white, at least from a Christian perspective, which says human life begins at conception. However, at the other end of life, a similar issue must be addressed; but it is not as black and white. The decision must be made among the patient, the doctor and the immediate family, or the legally responsible person or entity. (The latter referencing the authorities when there is no immediate family.) There should not be any further discussions!
As always, all comments and questions are most welcome. Thank you for reading!
05.02.12 / Uncategorized / Author: lsteadman / Comments Off
This week we will list and briefly describe a number of longstanding, reliable and credible sources of information about maintaining both good physical and good mental condition after 60 years of age.
Life Guidance Services. As a non-profit organization since 1893, LGS is also a part of Proactive Behavioral Alliance, which is a not-for-profit group of behavioral health organizations. They provide wellness and prevention programs, counseling and employee assistance services and are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and licensed by the State of Michigan’s Bureau of Health Systems. More information can be found at http://www.lifeguidanceservices.org/.
International Counsel On Active Aging. ICAA was founded in 2001 by a health and fitness industry veteran, Mr. Colin Milner. Annual conferences provide a forum for aging professionals to network and learn from each other, as well as from leaders in “active aging.” The organization honors creativity and excellence in programs and products for the aging. They also sponsor an “Active Aging Week” event, which provides older adults opportunity to engage in activities and exercise in a fun and safe environment. As of January 2010, the ICAA Network consisted of 8,200 organizations in over 40,000 locations in 37 countries all over the world. These organizations include the AARP, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, American Council on Exercise, American Occupational Therapy Association, the American Physical Therapy Association, JCC Association and the National Area Agencies on Aging. More information can be found at http://www.icaa.cc/.
WebMD’s “50 and Over: Healthy Aging”. This resource is just a portion of an extensive web-based organization. It includes links to popular searches by older adults on such topics as longevity diets, medication costs, retirement, memory, nutrition, heart disease, medical tests, sleep, sex, alzheimers, fitness and much more. The website also includes discussions, blogs and information on community organizations and caregiving. WebMD editorial team includes award-winning experts in medicine, health communication, journalism and content creation. They employ an Independent Medical Review Board to assure the currency and accuracy of the information. WebMD also has won numerous awards, including the eHealthcare Leadership Awards, an Excellence In Partnering Award from the Department of Health and Human Services and an award for Excellence in Journalism for WebMD’s “Gene test, Preventive Surgery Saves Women’s Lives” by the Society of Professional Journalists. More information can be found at http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/.
Healthy Aging. This is a national health initiative designed to be informative. It is described as “the best there is” about the physical, mental and social elements of aging. It began over 15 years ago in response to a television special entitled Our Nation’s Health… Healthy Aging. The website is produced by CWI Productions, Inc., which regularly updates news, techniques and tips for aging with a positive attitude. More information can be found at http://www.healthyaging.net/.
Other sources for information on maintaining both good physical and mental condition after 60 will periodically be included in future articles. Whether you are a doctor or an LPN (licensed practical nurse), we all get older and need the latest guidance and expertise. At Education After Sixty we will point you in the right direction for the best information.
Thank you for reading!