Health is Wealth: Healthspan Over Lifespan

I’ve been spending as much more time as I can these last 2 years in Canada with my aging parents. It’s quite alarming and shocking watching people who were so critical and important in your childhood become, well, so much older and weaker. The contrast is startling. It’s even more startling in the differences between my father and mother.

My father exercises, bikes everywhere and keeps busy in the garden and running the household. I admit I was worried for him after his retirement that he would deteriorate as he has few friends or hobbies but thankfully it’s turned out fine. He has found purpose in managing the house and garden.

I worried less about my mother before, who is an extrovert with plenty of friends, hobbies (art, volunteering and pottery) and a deep love of reading. But in recent years she has just become more negative in her attitudes on almost everything, especially as her health has taken a bad turn.

All because of a bad diet, her laziness, stubbornness in not wanting anyone telling her what to do and her dislike for exercise. She can barely walk now and refuses to do any exercise or do physiotherapy to fix it. She does spend some time in the garden and doing her pottery, but I have noticed how often she sleeps during the day. Every day and for many hours. This was not the case even 2–3 years ago. It’s not looking good and her quality of life has gone down a lot. But I am hopeful we can still turn this around as we are trying to incentivize her exercise and activity with a family trip to Taiwan later in the year, where she will need to walk more.

Hence, why it’s not just about having a long life but also a healthy active life. We share our parent’s genes and traits so this was a massive wake up call for me. Eating well by cutting out sugar and other bad things for you. I eat far less pastries and desserts as much as I love them. I focus on eating plenty of meat and plants. Regular exercise to build muscle mass, especially hard as you get older. Taking supplements, biohacking by sauna/cold showers, sleeping over 7–8 hours a night and doing martial arts. It’s good to be fit and in shape.

Mediation and finding solace as I explore religion has been good for my brain as I navigate some of my anguish and various challenges in life. It also helps by having a larger mission in life so you are staying mentally active as well. A family and community to take care of. Something beyond yourself. Having a greater purpose and mission

We should all be focusing on Health-span, having mobility, independence and a good quality of life. No point living longer if you don’t have this.