🧠How to slow down aging

The 5-minute weekly newsletter for married fathers.

Good evening.

How did people first figure out that it was cicadas that make this noise? I could see that taking a long time. Were there just, like, a thousand years where people were like “yeah, the trees are screaming. They do that in the summer.” (via: curiosityconfusion)

-Collier

_QUOTE
“Greatness is in the agency of others.”
Scott Galloway

What. a. quote.

I heard this on a podcast this week, and it was one of those quotes that just made so much sense.

Might just be the season of life I am in with kids and having just celebrated my 9th wedding anniversary, but the truth is we can’t do anything great by ourselves.

We need help. We need OTHERS.  

You always hear you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.

In short, audit your group. Be great.

_WISDOM
Teach by example.

I know it might sound simple, but we need the following reminder…well, I know I need it: stop talking and start being.

We can talk all we want about our good intentions in this life, especially with our kids. Without action - those intentions are worthless.

So what is a practical way to do this? Dr. Becky Kennedy provides a quick but key insight:

If we want kids to tolerate frustration, we have to tolerate their frustration.

If we want kids to tolerate disappointment, we have to tolerate their disappointment.

Big idea: Kids can’t learn to tolerate the feelings we don’t tolerate in them.

_ACTION
Keep your mind active.

This was inspired by some colleagues of mine who teach classes to adults 50 and over.

I recently sat in on a lecture, and it was all about brain health and how to slow the rate of cognitive decline.

It got me thinking about my own life and how much I have taken a passive approach to learning/challenging my brain.

I usually dismiss it by telling myself I don’t need the challenge or I don’t have the time.

Then, I came across this article from the National Institute of Aging.

Being intellectually engaged may benefit the brain.

People who engage in personally meaningful activities, such as volunteering or hobbies, say they feel happier and healthier.

Learning new skills may improve your thinking ability, too.

Some of the research on engagement in activities such as music, theater, dance, and creative writing has shown promise for improving quality of life and well-being in older adults, from better memory and self-esteem to reduced stress and increased social interaction.

That’s a wrap, folks!

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