Live a Happier and Longer Life

By Jerome Albers

I am over 75 years old in excellent health and very physically active. Since I am frequently asked how I do it, I decided to write a book on it. The book discusses the ways to live happier with less stress and laughing more about life. It isn't hard to accomplish this and is very basic. No special foods, exercises, medications, etc. are required. Easy low stress level living is require. By living happier you will live longer. It is based on my own experiences. The method allows you to enjoy life more and doesn’t put restrains on your life style. In fact it will free you up to enjoy life more. It applies to all ages from 1 to 100+.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jerome Albers
• Release date: Sep 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370446193

Jerome Albers

I am a single man who divorced in 1986 after 18 years of marriage. I have one son and currently 2 granddaughters and a grandson. I was born in 1939 which makes me over 75 years old. I am in excellent health and take no medications. I am a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and worked for NASA, IBM, and Microsoft, and several other companies. I currently own my own business. My business is predominately project management on engineering and software projects and acting. My sports are horseback riding including dressage and polo, sailing, scuba diving, as well as other sports and activities. My greatest loves are horseback riding, music, acting, dancing, travel, adventure, and of course women. I do volunteer work with several different groups and for several people. I took up the violin when I was in my 50’s and golf in my 60’ and polo when I was 72.

Book preview

Live a Happier and Longer Life

By Jerome Albers

This 2nd edition is © Copyright 2016 Jerome Albers. All rights reserved.

Cover photo by Sue Landis of Jerome Albers 75 years old at Lakeside Polo Club.

This book is dedicated to my son and grandchildren. May they live a happy, long, and healthy life!

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my Mother, Father, and Grandparents for my great philosophy on life. They taught me to appreciate life and to enjoy it without abusing it. Thanks Mom and Dad for a very varied and interesting life.

Preface

I am over 75 and in excellent health. I keep do and learning. I took up the violin when I was in my 50’s and golf in my 60’ and polo when I was 72.

I am writing this because I am in great health and over 75 years old. I am often asked how I do it. Every day I see so many people doing things that are very hard on their body and mind and in many cases there isn’t a good reason why people are doing the things they are doing because it neither makes them feel better or happier. I know where this bad behavior and lifestyle will lead them. If after reading this book a few people in a thousand change their life style then I will feel that it was worth the time writing the book. It is so hard to meet really happy, healthy, and relaxed people over 50 years old.

I haven’t done everything I recommend in this book all my life. I should have. I learned some things the hard way and others things where a change in data and information during my life. I was lucky that when my body told me that I should stop doing something or start doing something I did. As hard as it seems to be to break old habits and establish new ones, it really is not. Look at changing a habit as an interesting challenge to change an undesirable habit and see what changes it will make in your life. It is like a new game and can be exciting if approached with a positive attitude. A positive attitude is what you should have all of your life. You should do your best at whatever you do and that often means that someone may be better at something than you are but it is your best and therefore you can be content with yourself because you did your best and it will get better tomorrow. There are times when you will lose your positive attitude but must regain it quickly.

ENJOY LIFE, This is not a test run.

Life is not a race but if you want to come in ahead of me go right ahead.

Live is not a spectator sport.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1 HEALTH

Medical Care

Diet

Exercise

Sleep

Drinking, Smoking, and Drugs

Sun Exposure

Bath Products and Cosmetics

Chapter 2 LIFE STYLE

Attitude

Awareness

Education and Learning

Retirement

Chapter 3 STRESS

Stress

Finance

Work

Planning For Retirement

Pack Rat

Chapter 4 LIVING ARRANAGEMENTS

Housing

Living Arrangements

Old Folks Homes

Chapter 5 RELATIONSHIPS

Relationships

Family

Marriage

Sex

Dating

Chapter 6 KEEPING IN THE PRESENT

The Past is History

Politics and the World

Chapter 7 ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT

Growing your own fruits and vegetables

Travel and Guided Tours

Keeping the mind and body active

Volunteering

Socializing and laughter

Music

Overview

Brief Biography of Jerome W. Albers

Introduction

This book contains what I have experienced myself and that which I have witness with friends and acquaintances. This book is based mostly on my own experiences and not only on what is recommended by doctors, psychologists, and other writers on longevity. Although some of what I do is similar to their recommendations, I do weight their recommendations against what I know and have experienced. I have changed my life style many times and am continuing to do so. Mankind has learned so much new about our biology and make up in the last fifty years. Some of the behaviors I had when I was young shouldn’t be done today but at the time it was considered the correct thing to do. But many behaviors that I did when I was young should still be done today.

I consider myself fortunate that I was raised in the country where I ate mostly home grown foods and didn’t have the city pressure and air but the open space and freedom. When I was young I would just take off from the house and explore the woods and fields around my home. I observed the trees, plants, birds, animals, bugs, etc. I also helped my parents and grandparents grow plants and watch animals grow up and then as an adult grow my own vegetables, flowers, trees and raise animals. I ate vegetables and fruit from the trees which were raised organically, because many of the chemicals used today we didn’t have and what was available we couldn’t afford. We learned how to fight the pests without the chemicals and how to fertilize naturally. When I graduated from the university I lived mostly in the suburbs and they are the worst places to live. They are neither the country nor the city so not much can be learned about the quality of life and living there. You do learn about the continuing conflicts between people when we live too close together and everyone is touchy about their property (material things). Even though we are social animals we still need our space or at least to be around people who are not always competing against each other and half-heartedly attempting to live harmoniously together. People need to live in an environment where they help each other and not a continuous state of competition and with the attitude I am better than you.

A child living in or at least experiencing the country often is very important because as children life is exciting and there are so many things to do and experience. This freedom to do and experience is necessary for a healthy child and a healthy adult. Also as children we experience nature we learn to respect and love nature.

I lived a brief time in the country when I was older and loved returning to the country but because of work I had to move back to the suburbs. The nation seems to like to produce suburbs. This is because it produces artificial economies by construction which will have to end someday and then it will be economically painful for a nation that depends on construction for economic growth and tax revenue. Also it is easier for politicians to control people when they live in the city or suburbs because they depend on the government instead of themselves. Business loves the cities and suburbs because there are a lot of customers who have no self-reliance living in a small area. Therefore fewer stores but more customers per store. Also businesses have workers who must rely on their jobs to live and therefore more controllable. But all of this is hard on our health and attitude. It certainly does induce a lot of stress.

I will probably move back to the country to enjoy my old age. I probably will buy a few acres and keep enjoy it until I die because I know that I probably won’t have to move again. This does not mean that I won’t move again because who knows what life holds. I will also travel more so I am still getting the variety of living and not spending all my time in the same house and place.

To be healthy in body and mind you need to depend on and have faith in yourself. Unfortunately suburbs and cities make us more dependent on government and businesses and less on ourselves which is not health and is turning the control of yourself over to someone else.

When you wake up in the morning and are breathing it is another great day to do great things. Start thinking this way from birth.

I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning.- J. B. Priestley

"In the midst of winter,

I finally learned

that there is in me

an invincible summer."

- Albert Camus

Chapter 1 HEALTH

Medical Care

First and foremost your health is your responsibility and no one else’s responsibility. All decisions on what to do and what not to do are your decisions and not the doctors’ decisions. The doctors are only there to run tests and advise you and their advice isn’t infallible and neither does it have to be accepted. That is why on serious matters it is best to consult several doctors and especially doctors that are up to date on the latest developments. Doctors see many patients during the day and some probably with a more serious problem than your problem. The doctor tries to give you his full attention and focus but he is only human and his mind may wander to someone else he is treating or maybe to his own family matters. Another problem is that doctors are busy and don’t always stay up on the latest development. Fortunately with the internet it is easy and fast to get the current information on any health issue. But beware that the information is from a website