Living to Be 100

Living To Be 100

Over the last year or so I have been seeing a doctor concerning my cholesterol levels. This came about when my father suffered a minor, nonfatal, heart attack which resulted in his requiring bypass surgery. This made me very concerned for him and in turn made him very concerned for me. Our mutual concern was caused by a single fact: poor heart condition is hereditary among the Hornes. My paternal grandfather suffered a fatal heart attack in his forties. He fell dead in the yard in front of my father and his sisters-completely unexpected and unforeseen. This prospect scares me and is the reason that I exercise 4 to 5 times weekly and why I monitor what I eat. I currently take medication to help control my cholesterol and triglyceride levels however I am working toward being able to sustain proper levels through diet and exercise only (I hate taking medicine as much as I hate paying for it).

But I have decided on another lifelong goal that I have only recently shared with my wife. I would like to live to be 100 years old. As far as I know, no one in my family has ever reached 100 years of age. Granted my familiarity with my family only goes back about five generations, but I feel fairly certain that it has not been done (at least not in a very long time).

Now I do not know how much say a person has in his years on earth. I believe wholly in the sovereignty of God and that He knows (and maybe even determines) how long a man will live. I am not sure how set a man's years are or if he can affect the number of years of his life. I am going to strive for my goal and leave the result in God's hands. If I have to go to be with the Lord before I have reached 100, I can not really complain for everyday in His glorious presence will be greater than the day before. Furthermore even if I die when I am 60, I can at least be happy that I was in good health and kept up my strength as best I could for the time that I was alive. If I am going to pass away after only 80 years on this earth I want to be sure I lived a life of health and happiness, enjoying God and my family and friends.

It seems that the degradation in health and life that people experience in the twilight years of life is due to poor health choices and, by that point, a lack of motivation to do anything about it. I encourage you to also set a goal of living to 100 and strive toward and see what positive changes you can make in your health. I am reminded of quote by C.S. Lewis from Mere Christianity:

Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.

I say, aim at longevity of life and you will get strength, good health, and enjoyment thrown in. Aim at simply losing a few pounds or fitting into last year's jeans and you will likely get none of those things.

Not sure if I will make it to 100 or not but I will make a good go of it and at whatever age my life ceases I want to be able to say I passed with strength in my members and my wits about me.