What if growing older didn’t have to mean growing old? Rally breaks down the seven research-backed pillars from the excellent book “SuperAging” by Cravit and Wolf that can help you live longer, healthier, and more fully. Discover why your attitude literally affects you at the cellular level, what you should be avoiding to protect your independence, and much more!
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Hey there beautiful people!
Welcome back to the Silver Beast Podcast. I’m Rally Preston, your favorite septuagenarian podcaster, still trying to figure out how I got to be this old. Seems like I was just 40 about five minutes ago. I don’t know what happened.
Well one thing’s for sure — according to statistics, we’re all living much longer these days. If we had been older adults back in the 60s – we might not have been so lucky.
So today, we’re going to take a quick look at seven ways we can grow older without necessarily growing old. If we’re gonna keep having birthdays, I think we owe it to ourselves to make the best of each one, right?
So these seven ways – or seven pillars – come from a book I’ve been reading called SuperAging – and the subtitle of SuperAging is pretty good too – it’s, uh, Getting Older Without Getting Old. It’s co-authored by David Cravit and Larry Wolf. It’s good. Well researched. Very easy to read.
So what I’m going to do is give you highlights – it’s something like 260 pages long – but I’m going to give you the Readers Digest version of these seven pillars of SuperAging.
Each pillar starts with an ‘A’. Yeah, kinda gimmicky, I know – but it works.
So, here’s number one from Cravit and Wolf’s book, Superaging: This first pillar is titled ‘Attitude.’
This is a big one. Now I used to think the whole ‘think positive’ bit was just a bunch of mumbo jumbo. Well not anymore. Scientists have actually researched this stuff right down to the cellular level. Literally, down to your cells. Your attitude —whether it’s positive or negative— really does affect your health and how long you stick around.
People with a positive attitude outlive people with a negative attitude. That’s the bottom line. And that’s because, um, a positive attitude reduces stress, which reduces inflammation, and inflammation is the root cause of most problems for older adults.
And, you can’t fake Attitude – plastering a goofy smile on your face all day isn’t enough. It’s about truly believing, deep down, that you still have time to do a lot of exciting things.
Like I said, we’ve got more time ahead of us, well… we better have something to look forward to, right? Better have a reason to get up in the morning. So ramp up your Attitude – it’s not just mental, it’s physical too.
Alright, moving along, Number two: Awareness.
So this one’s about, um, staying informed. Doing your best to keep up with all the latest research on health, longevity, fitness, nutrition —all the things older adults should at least know a little about.
Now back in the day— like when I was younger—I’d go years without going to a doctor. And when I did go, it was more like, why are you here? Don’t waste my time, you’re fine. Ah, those were the days.
Well that changed. These days, I’m sure you’re getting stuff checked out a lot more often. So the point these guys are making about SuperAging, is, we shouldn’t rely totally on the docs to tell us what’s up. We should be actively seeking out information. Reading articles, watching videos, listening to podcasts—hey, like this one!—staying current on what works and what doesn’t.
Of course, the tricky part is there’s so much information out there now. So you gotta be smart about it. Find good sources. Don’t fall for every clickbait headline that promises you’ll live to 150 if you just eat… uh, more broccoli – or whatever.
So the point here is, stay informed, educate yourself, but, you know, stay smart about it too. You want good, trustworthy info so you and your doctor can work together as a team to get you the best care.
Alright, Superager pillar number three: Activity.
So this one, Activity, the Superaging authors say is about keeping both your body and your mind moving.
On the physical side—yeah, I know, nobody wants to hear this—but you gotta exercise. Nothing crazy, necessarily. But at least a few stretches, take a walk around the block, do a few air squats while you’re waiting for your coffee to brew. I mean, that’s the minimum. Even five minutes of movement a few times a day can make a big difference in how you feel. But,you know, always do as much as you can.
And it’s not just about cardio either. You need strength, flexibility, balance—all of it.
But here’s the thing people forget—mental activity is just as important as physical activity. Yep, you gotta keep that brain sharp. Learn new things. Take up a hobby. Do crossword puzzles – whatever. Do things that challenge your noggin. Anything that makes your brain work in new ways. Because if you don’t use it, well… It’s like any muscle—use it or lose it.
Alright, moving on, SuperAging pillar number four: Achievement.
So you retired. Congratulations! You worked hard, you earned it. But, ok, now what?
This is where a lot of people get stuck. Some people I know think retirement means just… stopping. Checking out. Spending the day watching game shows and waiting for dinner. Like they crossed the finish line and now they’re done.
No thank you. Not for me. And hopefully not you either, right?
The authors say here Superagers keep setting goals. Keep achieving things. Maybe it’s, um, going back to school or online classes. Maybe it’s starting a side business. Or it could be volunteering, or mentoring younger people, or finally writing that novel you’ve been thinking about since the 80s.
The point is, you need purpose. Retired or not. You need something to wake up for in the morning. Something that gets you excited, that gives your life meaning.
Look —achievement here doesn’t have to mean literally work. It can simply be having goals and going after them. Having something you’re working toward. And that, Silver Beasties, keeps you young. Keeps that spark glowing. You need that.
OK, so SuperAging secret Number five: Attachment.
Now this one’s about relationships. Staying connected to the people you love. That kind of attachment.
And look, the research on this is pretty clear—isolation and loneliness will do you in faster than just about anything else. Not being dramatic here. It’s science.
So whether it’s your spouse, your kids, your grandkids, your friends, your bowling league, your book club, whatever—cultivate connections. Nurture them. Make time for them. Seriously, put time on your calendar.
And hey, don’t just rely on the relationships you already have. Make new ones! Join a club. Take a class. Use technology to stay in touch with people far away—yes, even if you think video apps like Zoom or Facetime is confusing. Trust me, it’s worth figuring out. We humans are social creatures. We need each other. Simple as that.
Ok, the number six Superaging pillar: Autonomy.
This one’s about maintaining your independence—both physically and financially.
On the physical side, it means, you know, staying in your own home as long as possible. Aging in place, some call it. Thanks to all kinds of new technology and resources out there, maintaining your autonomy is more possible than ever before.
But there’s also financial autonomy. Making sure your money lasts as long as you do. Because let’s face it, living longer is great, but not if you’re broke, right? So you gotta be smart about your finances, have a plan, make sure you’re not gonna outlive your savings. All the things. The SuperAging book goes into more detail about this.
Independence matters. Control over your own life matters. Don’t give it up if you don’t have to.
And finally, the number seven SuperAging pillar: Avoidance.
Now this one’s about knowing what to side-step. What to watch out for.
And first up: ageism. People assuming you can’t do things just because you’re older. People talking down to you, patronizing you—that whole there, there, dear nonsense. Yeah, that’s a classic, right?
Don’t put up with it. You’re not less capable just because you’ve got some miles on you. In fact, you’re probably more capable in lots of ways. More experience, more wisdom, more patience— well, usually, anyway.
And then there’s the scammers. They’re out there, and they love targeting us older people. So you gotta be smart. Be skeptical. If something sounds too good to be true — you know the saying. If some stranger calls you saying you owe the IRS money? Hang up. If someone emails you saying you won the Nigerian lottery? Delete it. AI is upping scamming to a whole new level right now too. Stay sharp. Stay vigilant. Don’t let the bad guys get to you.
OK, So there you have it, Silver Beasties. The Seven A’s from the book SuperAging.
Attitude. Awareness. Activity. Achievement. Attachment. Autonomy. Avoidance.
Seven simple ideas from the that can help you live longer, healthier, and—most importantly—more fully.
Look, it’s not about how many years you’ve been alive. It’s about how alive you are in those years, right? How much you’re squeezing out of this one precious life we’ve got.
Alright, that’s it for today. Thanks for hanging out with me on the Silver Beast Podcast.
I’ll catch you next time!