Keep Moving!

When I started thinking about the concept of aging well and staying fit with each new decade, I knew there was one man I needed to ask advise from, my sister-in-law Susie’s dad, Ron Staniforth Sr. At 80-years-young he continues to stride through life with a swagger, a smile on his face, and a mischievous twinkle in his eyes–especially when he recounts his active social life. Ron gets up at the crack of dawn to visit garage sales and haggle unsuspecting sellers down to fraction of the price they originally asked. He takes more road trips than a teenager. And he always has a joke and story to share about his adventures. I needed to know Ron’s secret.

“I feel great,” Ron told me once. “I feel as good as I did at 20!”

So I asked him what his secret was for aging so well.

“Keep moving,” he told me. “That’s it.”

I thanked Ron and I began to understand why we should look to our elders for wisdom. Sure, I know I feel better when I am moving, hiking, lifting weights, cycling, working out, practicing martial arts, dancing, walking, swimming, or really anything active. But I have no idea what lays ahead for me in life. Ron has walked this earth 30 years longer than me, with a swagger, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, and smile on his face.

I aspire to age that well.