Anti-aging rule: Choose your friends carefully

My mother always reminded their kids that people judge you by the company you keep. The admonition was designed primarily for my brother who tended to prefer the company of rowdies subdivision – children who ran around with her shirt hanging out their panties pulled up, its not hair uncombed and used inappropriate language as "God" and "gee whiz." (Yes, Yes, I know. But that was back in the dark ages).

She was right – people judge you by people with whom you associate. But in our contemporary culture, few people are concerned about the judgment of others. However, if you are in middle age, and you want to keep young and vibrant good health characteristics, the company that you keep is very important for a reason seldom discussed.

And why is this: we have developed "old" thinking and behaviors of observation and emulation of the "old" or "older" people who associate with most often. They could be relatives, friends, neighbors or co-workers. And let's not forget the influence of archaic conventional wisdom and the thought of consensus. "Oldness" is creeping and viral. You really have to watch what you allow into your head and adopt as their own.

Someone in your family insists on being satisfied not because of an illness, but because "I've done for other people all my life, and now it's time for others to do it for me"? Grandma did this, once you do it, too. We should do for our seniors, but not when elders are fully capable of taking care of themselves. Is cruel and reckless encourage dependency. If law or another way of "old age" causes misfortune in his family, he can stop with you.

In addition to family life, one of the best places to catch the virus are in retirement communities oldness or any life situation where you are in touch mainly with people of their own age.

Retirement communities, for the most part, are beautiful. They are quiet, well maintained and offer many amenities that can keep it going without stopping: travel, classes, social and sporting events, State of the art exercise equipment, music, arts, crafts, tennis, swimming, theatre-you name it. What more could you want if you're over 50?

What you should be and should want to, if you're determined to put old on hold is regular association with people of all ages and circumstances. If you are in middle age (50-55), healthy and choose to buy in a retirement community, think about the environment you will be in for a very long time.

In a new community which emphasises the active lifestyles, there will likely be many residents about their age. But what happens with the passing of time? Assuming that the community remains stable, there probably won't be many younger people moving over the years. You might consider that a bonus, but remember this: over time, your closest friends and acquaintances will probably be those within the community, especially if your lifestyle becomes more settled. This is something to consider ahead of time.

The lifetime has increased for 27 years in the last century. These bonus years represent a long time to live in a situation where prevalent topics of conversation, eventually will be on aches, pains, that neighbor is in hospital or who died last week and that a widower is to win and what's your favorite casserole. The reality is this: If you're in middle age and choose to segregate themselves in an environment of elderly people, the virus only "oldness" will get you sooner than later.

Young people, as annoying as it can often be, can also be opened, patient, kind, compassionate and tolerant. For me, one of the joys of the job is the opportunity to interact with young people. On more than one occasion, his presence has helped me lighten up on impatience and crankiness. You can't pay for that kind of therapy!

Exposure to young people is essential if you want to broaden your world view and keep up to date with what is going on beyond their world and circle of friends. You cannot approve what you see and hear but he help you deal with reality – something that older people often have a relative difficulty.

Deliberately put yourself where are the younger people. Take or teach classes at the local Community College. Join organizations that do not segregate by age, i.e. only elderly people or groups only boomers. Volunteer for guiding the teenagers who could benefit from his wisdom and experience.

In fact, if you have a choice, choose your friends, associates and living environment carefully as you age. They can and do affect how you age and the quality of your life.