Saturday 14 July 2007

How To Stay Young


I came across this in a Japanese restaurant in Jambi, located on 1st floor of Well Top Center (WTC) overlooking Batanghari River. Well, if we discipline ourselves and stick to “Positive Eating” & “Positive Living”, there is no doubt that we are able to stay young and live on with God’s blessings.

How To Stay Young

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids?

If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

"How old are you?" "I'm 4 and a half!"
(You're never 36 and a half.)

You're 4 and a half, going on 5!
(That's the key.)

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back.

You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

"How old are you?" "I'm going to be 16!"
(You could be 13, but hey, you're going to be 16!)

And then the greatest day of your life . . . . You become 21.
(Even the words sound like a ceremony . . . You BECOME 21.
YESSSS!!!)

But then you turn 30.
Oooohh, what happened there?

Makes you sound like bad milk.
He TURNED; we had to throw him out.

There's no fun now, you're just a sour-dumpling.
What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21. You TURN 30, Then you're PUSHING 40.
(Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away.)

Before you know it, you REACH 50 . . . and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70!
After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle.
You HIT lunch. You TURN 4:30. You REACH bedtime.

And it doesn't end there.

Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I was JUST 92."

Then a strange thing happens.

If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"

May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

Something to share….

In the Bible, the LORD said, “I will not allow people to live forever; they are mortal. From now on they will live no longer than 120 years.” (Genesis 6:3) So my friends, all of us can make it to a healthy 100 and a half if we change our bad eating habits. God had warned us, “No fat of animals shall be eaten,” and “Never use the blood of birds or animals for food.” (Leviticus 7:23 & 26) Why? Our doctors used to tell us that the excess fats we eat can influence the level of cholesterol in our blood and can increase the level of triglycerides. Saturated fats raise blood cholesterol. Blood of birds or animals is no good for consumption as it contains bacteria, virus, and other toxins. Remember, the next time you order steak, make sure it’s “well done”! Always eat right (cereals, beans and nuts; less meat but more on white meat), eat green (fruits & vegetables) and drink more plain water (also Chinese tea & honey) that make you look good and to slow down aging.

Sleep well and exercise enough. Staying up late till midnight or early morning and having too little or never exercise are bad health habits. Quit smoking if you want to live long. Studies have shown that smoking increases heart rate, narrows blood vessels, raises blood pressure, scars our lungs, and can cause spasms of the coronary arteries.

Don’t worry too much. Be happy most of the time. Always be joyful and often have good laughter, long and loud, with cheerful friends. Keep smiling to make more friends. In Proverbs 17:22a, it was written, “Being cheerful keeps you healthy.”

Love your beighbour and always be kind and forgive others. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. GOD said, “Be kind and honest and you will live a long life; others will respect you and treat you fairly.” (Proverbs 21:21)

Keep learning. I remember one Chinese saying stated,” The longer you live, the more you learn.” Learn more about the computer, gardening, fishing, traveling and whatever. “Never let the brain idle. An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

Jimmy Tan is my childhood friend in our hometown, Kuala Lipis, Pahang. He used to tell me how he enjoys “armchair travelling” at home watching his favourite Astro’s programme. For a pensioner like him after retirement, his house is his refuge. He told me he travelled quite a bit lately, visiting his children in Ipoh and just returned from Kuantan with his wife.

A doctor, in his study on the care of the elderly, found that people who lived above 100 years of age all had one thing in common. These centenarians had a positive outlook on purpose in life. To them the future looked bright. They had a reason to be alive even at old age.

When comedian Bob Hope left the world’s stage few years ago, he died at age of 100 years. He looked younger than many others and had lived a long life all because he gave laughter to his audiences and shared his happiness with many other people around the world.

Two thousand years ago, JESUS said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) Sharing is a form of giving. I believe that the more we share and give, the more we are blessed. Everyday is a gift from GOD. Thank GOD for today. Each day when we wake up, we thank GOD for keeping us vitally alive and filling us with boundless energy and excellent health. Thank GOD that we are able to stay young as we age gracefully. GBU & PTL