Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Seniors passing advice to those hoping to join them

Wednesday, June 3, 1998 | 11:09 a.m.

PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER, according to articles carried by magazines, newspapers and the electronic media. This longevity is having an effect on everything from health-food products to increasing the length of time you must live before receiving old-age benefits under the Social Security Act.

There have always been individuals who have lived far beyond the normal age of the members of their generation. Three men who fought in the Civil War were some of my most interesting friends when I was a little boy living on the Mississippi River. They made a deep impression on me, and their names are better remembered than the names of many relatives. Next month, when the Second Infantry Division Association meets in Iowa, several members will be present wearing medals they earned fighting in World War I. That war ended 80 years ago.

There's even a new book, "Successful Aging," published by Pantheon and written by Rowe and Kahn. Jane E. Brody writes that "the book is a distillation of 10 years of research among thousands of older people by 16 scientists under the aegis of the MacArthur Foundation. When those aging successfully were asked their secret, many replied, 'Just keep on going.' The authors concluded, 'It is this forward-looking, active engagement with life and with other human beings that is so critical to growing old well.'

"They caution well-meaning friends and relatives against doing too much for older people, since taking over tasks that the elderly can do for themselves is belittling. It undermines self-esteem, leads to 'learned helplessness' and increases dependence."

"Successful Aging" should be a best-seller if only a small percentage of American senior citizens buy it. Closer to home, author Michael Sion's "Staying Power: Eight Nevadans Over 80 Share Secrets for a Life of Health, Happiness and Fulfillment" is also interesting reading. Sion's premise for the book is that healthy octogenarians know more than gerontologists and other so-called experts about what it takes to be happy, alert and healthy when reaching 80.

Most of the people in Sion's book are friends and acquaintances of mine. Lovely Moya Lear told Sion that having the right mental attitude is one of the most important keys to good health. She said she was born with a positive attitude and "along with a positive attitude, keeping busy and active is a vital key to good health. These women who just sit in chairs or play bridge, day in and day out, are languishing away. There's so much to do as a volunteer. You can help in so many directions. The more you sit, the older you get, and the faster you get there. You've got to get out and do something and be stimulated. There is a bunch of volunteers in this town, but there are even more women who could do a lot more than they are doing."

Businessman Preston Q. Hale, when asked by Sion what were the common ways people shortened their lives, answered, "You quit too soon. You don't finish the job -- whatever you're doing. If you don't finish it, you're making a mistake. Finish the work on your projects, don't leave anything undone. You see so many people who start something -- a good idea, a project -- and never finish it. If you don't do a complete job for a client, you're not going to make it. You go the extra mile.

"It's a bad thing to have in your mind, to know you've failed. Because that's what you did. You have to look in the mirror in the morning. It's gotta get you down. It applies to everything.

"When you've done the best you can, you feel good, you're at peace with yourself."

Attorney Fran Breen told Sion his exercise habits nowadays consist of working out "at the Y, lifting weights and swimming. Fifty years ago I was lifting weights, and I'm still lifting weights. I've damaged both rotator cuffs and have a problem putting too much weight on my arms, so the hand weights I use are five pounds."

Seventy-six-year-old John Glenn is going back into space, 79-year-old Nelson Mandela is still a power around the word and right next door to my office is my colleague Ruthe Deskin. Ruthe, two years past 80, writes a column, handles letters to the editor, advises reporters and does myriad other tasks such as the Sun Youth Forum and Summer Camp Fund. She also finds time to bowl every week, swims during the summer months and is the newspaper's most valuable resource.

"Successful Aging" co-author Dr. John W. Rowe told writer Brody, "We've learned that isolation is bad. Social interaction and exercise feed on each other. Especially in men, emotional support -- providing you-can-do-it encouragement -- is an important predictor of getting men to exercise and to maintain their physical fitness."

There will be a demand for more books about successful aging as youngsters in their 40s, 50s and 60s suddenly come to realize they can have a long life ahead of them. If they take care of themselves, it won't be necessary to repeat that well-worn phrase, "If I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself."