When health is endless wealth

Prayer has kept me going all these years. Photos: Unsplash

By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D.

As one goes through the passages of time, what is underscored is how health plays a prominent part in the entire picture.

Having reached the age of my 96 (and as a grandson has said: “Four more years to a century,”), I have but one noun to invoke: gratitude.

Some dear friends have been prone to ask: “What’s your secret?” Of course, the response is far from being a “secret.” It’s merely meeting the exigencies of life: Observe what has worked for me over time.

I rely, of course, on following what has assisted me thus far.  Proper nutrition, exercise and rest. In other words, proper sleep habits.

Undeniably, I delve into several chapters of my past: how, to a certain limitless degree, my marriage had reached six decades, four months and nine days.

The aforementioned period was one of sharing and being with the joy of my life: My loved one who was insistent on observing the health rules that did not include the extraordinary.  He was insistent about implementing exercise, relying on the strict “three-meals- a-day,” dictum with but the simple “snacks” consisting of fresh fruits, no sweets. We passed on the same line of “snacks” to our three children who are proud to show how “living and maintaining the rules of health,” are the very “musts” in enjoying their lives as grandparents.

In order to illustrate the meaning of “exercise,” my hubby gifted me with a rower when the weather would not allow the walks around our neighborhood. Incidentally, that rowing machine is still around, part of what I rely on to let the pounds stay between 95-98. Thankfully, up to now, the sole hospitalization I’ve had was when motherhood came to me on three occasions. 

I never called my relying on the “rower” as the sole way by which I would be able to stay at the number of pounds that accompanied the height that I have: at least five feet.

I choose to walk around our neighborhood when the weather was friendly to me. Having been visited by weather-related allergies, I was always conscious of exercising indoors. Thankfully, over time, I have stayed within what has been termed “ideal weight” for seniors like me.

Now and then, when friends inquire about having “maintained” the same weight, I do not hesitate in letting them know how I still adhere to certain exercises regularly and how I’ve clung to my simple diets.

What’s my secret? Proper nutrition, exercise and rest.

I likewise respond to their queries by observing what I call my “mental exercises,” continuing my love of writing via book authorships and regular column writing.

Of course, I do not stray away from the vehicle of prayer. It is the very instrument that has kept me going while I do not hesitate at all to rely on what I’ve leaned on: the very simple health rules that made an early acquaintance when I turned 17 years as a college graduate.

As the years come and go, I continue to observe and practice what did arrive at as pluses. When my grandchildren ask me, I am far from hesitant to respond to their queries. They have, in their own unique ways, practice what works for them.

I am grateful to see how they have put their education to great use and seeing how their parental skills have accompanied them in their responses to addressing certain chapters of their respective Books of Life.



Leave a Reply