Thanks for Listening: Aging!

William Leroy Kennedy
17 hours ago
2 min read

William Leroy Kennedy cutting his favorite, Carrot Cake, on his 80th Birthday.

Longevity is not promised, but I believe most of us hope for it. My dad died at age fifty-nine, and my mom died at seventy, but I recently turned 80! I never thought about what age I might achieve; I only know that there are still things I would like to help happen with my family, friends, through encouraging education, and in our governance. So I’m never bored without something to do.

To me, one of the worst things about aging is the annual loss of many relatives and friends. My high school has all-year alumni reunions. One year, I looked at the list of those who had passed away in the past two years and thought, “This is far too many!” I did not realize that an equally long list was on the second page.

Yes, my body through my illnesses, doctor selections, and other adventures is not what it used to be. However, it is in better shape than at some earlier ages. Now I exercise almost every day and eat a whole lot healthier. Some members of my family have lived into their mid-nineties, so perhaps I will have that opportunity.

COVID did its damnedest to take me out before it officially arrived in America. My primary care physician did not have a clue about how to treat my symptoms. Fortunately, I’d been introduced to a naturopathic doctor in Muscle Shoals, AL, Dr. Deborah Carter, who didn’t know what disease I had contracted, but she successfully treated my symptoms.

Things that I have not abused include alcohol, legal or illicit drugs, and unprotected sex. Yes, I know these actions do not make one immune to premature death, but they may make it less likely. Learn your family members' health histories, including both male and female relatives, as not knowing can make you vulnerable to potentially preventable medical conditions.

Thanks for listening.