by Ray Fauteux

Created on: May 13, 2007   Last Updated: February 01, 2009

If all the information available in today's market-place about maintaining a healthy diet is any indication, it would seem logical to assume that one of the major keys to longevity would somehow be linked to paying particular attention to the food we choose to consume.

However, I don't believe depriving oneself of cake, cookies and ice cream and living on a steady diet of tofu and wheat grass is the ultimate key to longevity.

Of course it is important to avoid substances that take a heavy toll on the body. Drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol are the three obvious vices to avoid. Abuse of these substances will flood your body with oxidants(free radicals) and accelerate the aging process.

I was recently reading a story about one of the oldest living Americans. I believe he was 105. He claimed that his key to a long and healthy life was a steady diet of sausages and waffles. Sausages and waffles! You mean all these years I have been depriving myself of having sausages with my eggs and hash browns because I thought they were bad for me? Bummer.

I believe there are several areas to focus on in order to live past the average lifespan.

A SENSE OF HUMOR:

Life is hard at times. No matter who you are or what you have, there are times when life can be extremely trying. I believe that for the most part, most of us take life far too seriously. We get one chance at this and we should all make the most of it. To me, having a sense of humor exhibits the ability to role with the punches that life hits us with. Worry and stress put an extra workload on our bodies. Heart rates will increase causing a rise in blood pressure and things will escalate from there. Sure there are tough times. Bad things will happen. Things will go wrong with your work or relationships. Friends and loved ones will die. This is life running its course. It has been happening since the beginning of time and will happen long after we are gone. Sure, we can't smile about everything, but time is the great healer. We eventually have the option to either give up on life or carry on with a smile despite the hardships we might endure over the course of our lives.

AN ACTION PLAN:

Far too many people worry about how much money they will have when they retire and forget about the more important things. Things like, what they will do in the twilight years of their lives with all that free time they have worked so hard for? It is not enough to put your feet up and count your nest egg. Your body has spent years staying physically

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