Monday, March 17, 2025
What’s Your Why?
Mary Poppins never explained herself. But she always had her reasons. So do I.
I didn’t always think much about aging. Like many people, I assumed I’d deal with it when it came. But everything changed in my 50s.
My mother-in-law was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Watching her decline wasn’t just sad. It was terrifying.
Each week, I saw more of her personality disappear. Her movement slowed.
Her independence vanished. She couldn't cook, get dressed, or play bridge with friends.
She was confined to a wheel chair.
Eventually, her smile faded.
I saw the toll it took on our whole family. Especially on the people who had to care for her. It was exhausting -- physically, emotionally, and financially.
It didn’t take long before I had a quiet, terrifying realization:
I don’t want this to be me.
The Wake-Up Call I Needed
Now, I didn't just want to avoid disease. I wanted to protect my family from that kind of future. I definitely didn’t want my kids to spend their lives worrying about mine. I didn’t want to drain their time, their energy, or their resources.
But most of all, I didn’t want to slowly lose who I was.
My mother-in-law’s decline was not only physical. She also developed dementia. Watching her lose her memory and sense of self was devastating.
Sometimes we would ask her a simple question,
"Do you need to use the bathroom?"
But she’d look at us with a soft confusion and say,
“I don’t know… do I?”
It was such a small moment — but to me, it said everything.
That one sentence was a quiet cry of everything dementia takes from a person.
And it was the moment I knew —
I had to do whatever I could to stay sharp, strong, and aware for as long as possible.
You Have More Power Than You Think
I discovered, there’s a lot we can do to reduce our risk of age-related decline.
We can’t control everything. But lifestyle plays a bigger role than most people think.
Simple, consistent habits make a huge difference.
Here’s what rose to the top of my list:
These aren’t just feel-good suggestions. They’re backed by science. And they’re all things we can start — right now, right where we are.
This Isn't About Perfection
Let me be clear: I don’t do everything perfectly. I still enjoy treats. I skip workouts sometimes. I let stress get to me.
But I always come back to my why.
When I feel unmotivated, I remember my mother-in-law.
When I’m tempted to shrug it all off, I think of my children and grandchildren — and how I want to be there for them, not depend on them.
That’s the difference now. I have a reason.
My Mission: To Age on My Own Terms
These days, I’m not chasing youth. I’m protecting my future self.
I want to keep moving freely.
I want to think clearly and laugh easily.
I want to stay independent for as long as possible.
And more than anything, I want to model healthy aging for the people I love.
Aging is inevitable. But how we age? That’s where we have some say.
Want to Take One Small Step with Me?
If any part of my story resonates with you — if you’ve had your own wake-up call — I invite you to start where I did: with awareness.
I created a simple Healthy Longevity Checklist to help you take stock of where you are now.
It’s free. It’s based on research.
And it gives you a clear starting point — without needing expensive tests or gadgets.
👉 Click here to get your free Healthy Longevity Checklist.
The greatest gift you can give your loved ones is taking care of your own health!