RETIRING TO RETIRE IN STYLE
Content
RETIRING IN STYLE*
Five months before I was to turn 60 years of age, I had examined my life and decided to alter its course because of its obvious direction leading to both a physical and spiritual hell. Up to that time, I was as regular as any regular guy could be self indulgent. By popular standards, I was normal with the exception that I had no dis-ease of any kind. The years from May 2003 have been my re-creation years because it was from that time that I had concentrated on a purposeful replacement of my more than one hundred trillion cells in order to regain my health and energy. Since then I had began my serious study and application of a healthy lifestyle by first quitting my drinking and smoking habits of 46 years both cold turkey. Based on my study, these are the gatekeepers of health because no matter how much you try you cannot truly be healthy with nicotine and alcohol in your system. The efficacy of the nutrients of food and medicine are not maximized since they were never designed with the idea of first overcoming such counter productive agents. Before you get me wrong, like I said I was not ill of anything. I was just sick of my old self and learning quickly from my research about the impending gloom and doom awaiting me if I did not change for the better. By the thirteen of October 2003, I had marinated my mind with thoughts of health and healthy living. My health library grew rapidly and now numbers the better of 160 books of which I have read more than 90 percent. Thus I cautiously started an aerobic and strength training program together with a disciplined nutritional regimen which included abstention from all meat. I reduced my 5’8” frame to 144 pounds by losing 50 pounds and 10 inches from my waistline that trimmed itself to 30 inches. I have since changed my entire wardrobe from three piece suits to jeans and tees. I have also gone from gelled hair to a natural ponytail. I had gone from rock and roll music to the brain friendly ambiance of the
classical and symphony music. I had given up both the television and the newspaper believing that any news really worthwhile knowing was going to get to me in whatever form. I was now on a permanent fast from all the bad news, sex and violence that these media brings. I had exchanged the movies for operas, ballets, plays and symphonies at the Cultural Center and in open park presentations. I moved to a simple house in the suburbs which was screened where the open windows allowed the sunlight to enter and the wind to circulate freely. I finally had no need for any alarm clock, air conditioner or electric fan. I had the birds singing for me in the mornings and best of all I had the toads and cicadas lulling me to sleep in the evenings. I arise before five in the morning with a resting heart rate of 50 remembering my dreams practically every time. It is important to know that you dreamt when you slept because it is an indication that your mind had also been reparative and restorative. It is enough to know this instead of trying to remember the subject matter of your dreams and giving it interpretation. I begin my day by thanking God for all His blessings. Before the sun rises, I am off to my brisk walk maintained at 70% of my maximum heart rate. I enjoy the cool air blowing from the lake in the west and coming from the mountains in the east. I expose myself to the golden rays of the rising sun and with my twenty foot shadow I stare at it directly for about 5 minutes daily. I am oftentimes rewarded by the singing of the birds along my habitual 5 mile route and get happily surprised by that occasional rainbow. After an hour of the above routine rain or shine mind you, I spend another hour working out in my home gym equipped with the most basic devices. Then I would have my breakfast of champions of oat meal, fruits and vitamin supplements washed down by lots and lots of mineral water. After my bathroom chores and a long cold shower, I head for the badminton courts where even as the most senior in age I play with and keep pace with other players in their 20’s and 30’s. After about 3 hours of this which is around noon, it’s lunch and time for more fruits, vegetables, tofu and occasionally some non-farm fish. Another long cold shower and I am ready for my power nap which last
anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes. My sleep is always induced by my spiritual reading and meditation with classical music in the background. Ninety percent of the time, I wake up remembering I dreamt again and feel totally refreshed. I am so refreshed that I can actually head back to the badminton courts as I have actually done on several occasions. I snack in the afternoon eating another fruit or munching on nuts and seeds. My afternoons are for reading, researching and writing until its time for the evening Mass. It’s another twenty minute walk to Church weather permitting. I believe that you really cannot have a sound body without a sound spirit. On the other hand, there is just so much to thank God for. More importantly, at my age I am also preparing to go Home in the best physical condition as a temple of the Holy Spirit. I take the public transportation coming back to the house as it is already quite dark and since it is also time for my dinner of the same lunch variety. I tie the loose ends of my research and writings for the day and normally hit the sack by 9 o’clock. I have the talent of multitasking while lying in bed as I read, write, edit and meditate under the inspiration of classical music again. I shut everything down by 10 pm and end the day with my evening prayers. My mind and body by now are preparing for the challenges of the following day. *The foregoing is a digest from my autobiography.
Five months before I was to turn 60 years of age, I had examined my life and decided to alter its course because of its obvious direction leading to both a physical and spiritual hell. Up to that time, I was as regular as any regular guy could be self indulgent. By popular standards, I was normal with the exception that I had no dis-ease of any kind. The years from May 2003 have been my re-creation years because it was from that time that I had concentrated on a purposeful replacement of my more than one hundred trillion cells in order to regain my health and energy. Since then I had began my serious study and application of a healthy lifestyle by first quitting my drinking and smoking habits of 46 years both cold turkey. Based on my study, these are the gatekeepers of health because no matter how much you try you cannot truly be healthy with nicotine and alcohol in your system. The efficacy of the nutrients of food and medicine are not maximized since they were never designed with the idea of first overcoming such counter productive agents. Before you get me wrong, like I said I was not ill of anything. I was just sick of my old self and learning quickly from my research about the impending gloom and doom awaiting me if I did not change for the better. By the thirteen of October 2003, I had marinated my mind with thoughts of health and healthy living. My health library grew rapidly and now numbers the better of 160 books of which I have read more than 90 percent. Thus I cautiously started an aerobic and strength training program together with a disciplined nutritional regimen which included abstention from all meat. I reduced my 5’8” frame to 144 pounds by losing 50 pounds and 10 inches from my waistline that trimmed itself to 30 inches. I have since changed my entire wardrobe from three piece suits to jeans and tees. I have also gone from gelled hair to a natural ponytail. I had gone from rock and roll music to the brain friendly ambiance of the
classical and symphony music. I had given up both the television and the newspaper believing that any news really worthwhile knowing was going to get to me in whatever form. I was now on a permanent fast from all the bad news, sex and violence that these media brings. I had exchanged the movies for operas, ballets, plays and symphonies at the Cultural Center and in open park presentations. I moved to a simple house in the suburbs which was screened where the open windows allowed the sunlight to enter and the wind to circulate freely. I finally had no need for any alarm clock, air conditioner or electric fan. I had the birds singing for me in the mornings and best of all I had the toads and cicadas lulling me to sleep in the evenings. I arise before five in the morning with a resting heart rate of 50 remembering my dreams practically every time. It is important to know that you dreamt when you slept because it is an indication that your mind had also been reparative and restorative. It is enough to know this instead of trying to remember the subject matter of your dreams and giving it interpretation. I begin my day by thanking God for all His blessings. Before the sun rises, I am off to my brisk walk maintained at 70% of my maximum heart rate. I enjoy the cool air blowing from the lake in the west and coming from the mountains in the east. I expose myself to the golden rays of the rising sun and with my twenty foot shadow I stare at it directly for about 5 minutes daily. I am oftentimes rewarded by the singing of the birds along my habitual 5 mile route and get happily surprised by that occasional rainbow. After an hour of the above routine rain or shine mind you, I spend another hour working out in my home gym equipped with the most basic devices. Then I would have my breakfast of champions of oat meal, fruits and vitamin supplements washed down by lots and lots of mineral water. After my bathroom chores and a long cold shower, I head for the badminton courts where even as the most senior in age I play with and keep pace with other players in their 20’s and 30’s. After about 3 hours of this which is around noon, it’s lunch and time for more fruits, vegetables, tofu and occasionally some non-farm fish. Another long cold shower and I am ready for my power nap which last
anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes. My sleep is always induced by my spiritual reading and meditation with classical music in the background. Ninety percent of the time, I wake up remembering I dreamt again and feel totally refreshed. I am so refreshed that I can actually head back to the badminton courts as I have actually done on several occasions. I snack in the afternoon eating another fruit or munching on nuts and seeds. My afternoons are for reading, researching and writing until its time for the evening Mass. It’s another twenty minute walk to Church weather permitting. I believe that you really cannot have a sound body without a sound spirit. On the other hand, there is just so much to thank God for. More importantly, at my age I am also preparing to go Home in the best physical condition as a temple of the Holy Spirit. I take the public transportation coming back to the house as it is already quite dark and since it is also time for my dinner of the same lunch variety. I tie the loose ends of my research and writings for the day and normally hit the sack by 9 o’clock. I have the talent of multitasking while lying in bed as I read, write, edit and meditate under the inspiration of classical music again. I shut everything down by 10 pm and end the day with my evening prayers. My mind and body by now are preparing for the challenges of the following day. *The foregoing is a digest from my autobiography.
