ATTITUDE: This is the barometer by which you set your daily destiny. It's a homemade pattern that determines your capacity to truly enjoy life. Depression is not the norm at any age! Decide today to live to the maximum capacity of your OWN abilities. "If it's not fun, don't run!"

GENES: Most gerontologists today believe that the majority of people have genes that will allow them to live to at least ten years longer than the previous generation. Develop those good ones and minimize or strengthen the weak links. Your choice of a healthy lifetime may have more of an impact than previously thought in determining your longevity.

EXERCISE: Maintaining strength and muscle becomes most important as we age. Movement training, as simple as daily walks, helps burn fat more efficiently, reduces heart disease risk, plus enhances the feeling of well-being. In addition, it maintains your ADL's (activities of daily living)...thus keeping you independent.

NUTRITION: Eating modestly helps avoid other ailments such as diabetes, heart problems, and depression, all connected with BEING overweight. Increase fruits and veggies, avoid sweets & fats, as well as minimizing meat and saturated fats are well known ways to keep us healthy. "Just do it!" Supplement a sensible diet with your vitamins recommended by a health practitioner.

STRESS: Reduce as much as possible the 'distress or sustained distress' in your life. Try meditation, yoga, optimism and/or old-fashioned humor in order to preserve a sense of balance. Encourage the 'fun stress' of extending your horizons into diverse interests.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES: Keep your mind open to future challenges becoming learning experiences. Exercise your brain, daily, in order to increase its ability to expand. Try possibilities in areas previously unexplored. “Put your foot into every opened door!” as one studied subject excitedly exclaimed.