Dr. Gott: Accept aging with class

Sat., Sept. 22, 2007

Peter H. Gott, M.D. United Media

Dear Dr. Gott: I have intended to write you for a long time. I’m a retired nurse and read your column in my local newspaper.

How do I learn to live with the aging process?

I can’t tell whether I have a problem I need to visit my doctor about or whether my symptoms are just part of the aging process. I feel you know the answer.

Dear Reader: How do any of us deal with the aging process?

Some people make ridiculous attempts to fight off aging. Others simply learn to live with it. This is called “class,” and I wish more people had it.

I recommend you remain active to the fullest extent possible. Read the newspaper, listen to the evening news on television, and volunteer at your local hospital, library or senior center.

Does your local school have a volunteer day when seniors read to young children? Join a community center and participate in day trips.

Join, or better yet, start a monthly book group. Consider a monthly luncheon with friends.

Are you stopping the aging process? Not a chance.

But by staying active and involved, you will have a reason to put your best foot forward on a daily basis. You’ll be keeping up on current events, meeting friends and sharing the woes of aging with style and grace.

This creates the “class” that makes our golden years more tolerable. Remain optimistic, facing each new day with a positive attitude.

It goes without saying that you should visit your doctor on a regular basis and follow the recommendations for treatment of high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and all those less than wonderful roadblocks we encounter as we age.

Remember that you had a wonderful career, learned a lot and probably have a very supportive family.

Don’t fight aging. Stay with it, and, above all else, remain strong.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.