LONGEVITY

Longevity

I am always inspired by centenarians—those special people who,

against all odds, live to or even past the age of one hundred. I am in awe

of them when I see or hear them interviewed and find they still possess

a sharp memory, though their body may be broken down.

After all, I believe that we all are minds that carry along a body for

life, but in reality, it is our mind that carries us to the end. Some such

people whom I have encountered have such vivid memories that go all

the way back to their early childhood!

One day I clipped an obituary of a gentleman who passed after

reaching the age of 112. The man, an African-American, had lived

through both World Wars, the landing of man on the moon, and the

election of the first black president, whom he himself had been able to

vote for.

As I studied the obituary, I saw that the man was born in 1896

during times of discrimination and was refused entry into the U.S.

Army when he tried to apply. I marveled at how this man far surpassed

so many others born in the same year, when the average life expectancy

166 An All-Consuming Desire to Succeed

of the times was about 42. Amid all the sickness in those days, this man

seemed to sidestep it, as if tiptoeing through a minefield. To live to the

age of 112 years and 98 days, a person would have lived over 41,000

days. I bet there are many factors involved in longevity, including luck,

heredity, faith, lifestyle, and, most important, attitude. Without the

right attitude and zest for life, one would be hard-pressed to outlive so

many others.

Never give up! That is the inner attitude of the body and mind of

anyone who can live for 41,000 days.

C- 2012 John Paul Carinci from the book: An All-Consuming Desire To Succeed

http://www.amazon.com/An-All-Consuming-Desire-Succeed-ebook/dp/B0053VLUKU/ref=ntt_at_ep_edition_2_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XW