Ageing successfully?

We have just had a couple of days up in the frozen north with Kathy at Claire's house. Kathy commented, on watching this item on the local news, "Now there's someone who is ageing successfully!"
The item in question was about a 96 year old lady who has, impressively, just finished walking the entire length of Hadrian's Wall (although not all at once).
I have been pondering on this. So that  must mean that it is no longer enough to 'grow old gracefully', there is a further hurdle to clear. You have to 'age successfully'. But does that mean that, to do so, I shall also have to walk the length of Hadrian's Wall and will I have to wait until I am 96 to do it, or could I just sneak it in now and 'deposit' it as evidence to show that I have aged successfully by the time I am 96?
Or, would it be enough to keep walking the dogs every day until I am 96?
Or was it enough just to help bring the horses in the other evening. They are quite big and a little bit scary!


10 comments:

Yorkshire Pudding said...

What a marvellous old lady! (Err..Don't worry I'm talking about Miss Doris Hancock - not you Jenny!)Notice she is a "miss" and a former teacher who must have retired in the seventies! As a "miss" she probably didn't squander precious energy tending to the needs of menfolk with muddy shoes, irritating hobbies and flatulence. Keep walking the dogs and if one sadly departs to doggie heaven, replace him with a whippet!

Shooting Parrots said...

They tried to convince us at work that if we walked up so many flights of stairs every day, we'd have scaled Everest by the end of the year. I tried it, but still found myself celebrating New Year's Eve in Manchester rather than in the Himalayas.

Even so, I'd say that you stick to totting up of the dog walks.

Cro Magnon said...

The answer, as always, it to keep active both physically and mentally (I probably fail on both).

Jennytc said...

Regarding marital status, it seems that unmarried women have the advantage but unmarried men don't do very well at all - probably because they need a capable woman to minister to their every need. ;)

Jennytc said...

Wise choice of venue, I'd say, SP!

Jennytc said...

Yes indeed, Cro. I read recently that it is physical activity which wards off dementia rather than mental.

ZACL said...

Decisions, decisions, decision. It's like asking if you should put a deposit on a brick or two. Tell you what, keep a pair of sturdy trainers in reserve.

The brain should thrive if you keep the body fit...or, could that be the other way round, as well.

Flighty said...

I don't think that I could walk it now let alone in 30 years time! I'll stick to plotting and walking to the local library for my exercise. Flighty xx

Jennytc said...

Trainers in the hallway as we speak, ZACL. ;)

Jennytc said...

I'm not sure I could either, Flighty but you must be very fit with all the exercise you get from the plot.

Plaster board and dust

So, we're still no further forward on the British Gas smart meter front and I've given up making non-existent appointments with them...