How to Have Zip and Zest When You're Eighty

Chapter 1
Save for your retirement health

You hear about saving for retirement over and over again through many sources. It's comforting to know that you have enough money stashed away to fly around the world, or plunge into deep sea diving, or pay for nursing home care should you need it; but is that your goal? Money alone can't do it.

How much thought have you given to acquiring the attitudes, mental well being and health so you can live vibrantly to enjoy that money you've saved? Happiness and satisfaction depend equally on the physical and mental baggage you've gathered through the years. You can start making improvements at any age.

You must provide for your own retirement health. You can't win it in a lottery, acquire it in the stock market nor have it willed to you.

Chapter 2
A positive attitude toward life and the ability to adapt

It's not so much a matter of what happens to you in life as it is the way you respond to it. You need the ability and cope with problems and adapt to situations whether it's making friends, improving your diet, getting the necessary exercise or learning to enjoy life. If you don't have the desire to change or improve, you will stay stuck in the same old rut.

Just how do you adapt?

That's something you must figure out for yourself. Some of you resist change with every bit of effort you can muster... but changes come whether you like it or not and often the longer you delay the fewer options you may have. Look back at the ways you have adapted in the past. What was the process?

Think possibilities not obstacles

Minimize your contacts with people who depress you Associate with men and women who make you feel good Give encouragement to others who have setbacks—in the process you may be encouraged also Learn something new every day Help someone who is less fortunate—it will make you feel good Learn to laugh at your failings Surround yourself with things you enjoy—art—music—family—friends—pets—hobbies

Enthusiasm makes the difference—look for little ways to develop it

Chapter 3
New friends won't just appear on your doorstep—take the initiative

Making new friends and acquaintances becomes more important as you grow older. Former friends may not be around any more for a hundred different reasons. Your children may be transferred and grandchildren go away to college.

Who will replace them in your life? Unless you keep friendships current and continue to make new ones, you find yourself alone.

Situations change as you grow older. Why not look up some of the people you used to enjoy? Now you have the time to get together occasionally. It's easy to communicate through e-mail. Send a card. Invite them over for coffee. Get together for lunch. If they are too busy, try somebody else. Do you have anything to lose—except perhaps the fear of being turned down?

Chapter 8
Take into account your limitations—set goals achievable for you

You must scale down some of your activities as you grow older, taking into account any physical limitations. Set goals for things you wish to accomplish, need to do or just think you might enjoy. Concentrate on accomplishing one little detail at a time and you will see results.

None of us can predict how long we will live. Set some goals and work to make the best of the rest of it, whatever may be the length. Keep as healthy as possible—exercise regularly, watch your diet Make yourself the most interesting kind of person you can be Use the computer Go the library—take time to read—keep up with current events

Madeline