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.
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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?
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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!