Do You Want To Live To Be 100?

Or how about 101?  The Philadelphia Enquirer just lately published a piece about Murray Shusterman, a 101 12 months old functioning Philadelphia attorney who has been practicing law because 1936.  The write-up reports that “his thoughts is sharp, even if his hearing has dulled. His really like for the law nevertheless shines.”

As I am a promoter of wholesome aging at AgingParents.com, I am often intrigued by these stories.  I appear for the secrets and techniques to healthy longevity that inevitably the reporter asks about.   There looks to be a typical theme operating by way of the reports of people who are still going pretty powerful at anything close to one hundred.  Here’s what I gleaned about Mr. Shusterman’s extended lifestyle.  Maybe we can think of them as the oldsters’ suggestions for productive longevity.

1. The oldest members of our society, who are centenarians, comprising 0.0002 of the population, mostly seem to be really engaged in daily life. They all have a record of past or recent involvement in their communities.  For Murray, it was everything from serving as counsel to the Commission on Human Relations and assisting compose city laws on honest housing and employment to involvement with his alma mater, Temple University. He has been deeply concerned as a leader in many Jewish brings about.
two. They encounter difficulty with stubborn determination.  Murray’s son, Robert Shusterman an architect and lawyer is quoted as saying of his father, ”He keeps pushing himself as tough as he can, and tries not to complain about things. He has a determination, a will to overcome impediments.”

three.  They are generous with their time and assets. In 1994 Murray and his household gave $ 1 million to Temple Law College for the renovation of Park Hall, which reopened as Murray H. Shusterman Hall. Last yr, Shusterman did more – donating $ 1.1 million to Temple Law to sponsor a professorship.”His dedication and generosity have been an inspiration,” law college dean JoAnne Epps is quoted as saying at the time.

four. They share their wisdom. Shusterman taught law as an adjunct professor for more than three decades, served on the university board of trustees, and in 1992 was elected an honorary, lifetime trustee.

five. They don’t consider themselves also critically.  Here’s what Murray had to say to the reporter when asked about his very best and worst experiences in existence:
“A person has several experiences over time, some very good, some negative. . . . The actual secret is to be decent, to be honest, and to be forgiving – now and then even a buddy will do some thing that annoys you. And really do not take yourself as well significantly.”

6.  They stay energetic.  Murray describes himself as being energetic all his existence.  He played golf till age 100. He is the father of 3 sons and had a long marriage, widowed in 2005.  He doesn’t, from the stories about him, strike 1 as a sofa potato.

The story of Murray is not about what to consume or what exercise to do. It is not about carrying out brain workouts, however some of us feel the practice of law is, of itself a regular brain exercising. ( I can attest to that from three decades of personalized experience!) It is about significantly broader concepts and a philosophy of lifestyle.  Yes, he is definitely blessed with great genes. And he maximizes this benefit by making his existence an instance of performing a good deal of things in an upright way, enjoying it to the fullest.  70% of healthful aging is about your lifestyle.

I was inspired by Murray and hope you are too.  Even if you choose only a single of the above six things he does and do more of it, you just may well enhance your possibilities of a longer, more healthy daily life.

Till next time,
Carolyn Rosenblatt
AgingParents.com

Do You Want To Live To Be 100?