On aging gracefully

Taken from youbeauty.com

by Susan Palmes-Dennis 

SO many times we've come across the question “what is the secret of aging gracefully?” I joined those who gave their answers at my Facebook page. 

It received quite of a response from all over Planet Earth. The only thing common is all responses came from my friends. It received 27 likes and more than 50 comments. 

Responses came from friends all over the world. Most are personally known to me in the course of my work, in my inner social circle and through social networks. 

Never mind their ages, education, sexual preference, jobs, passion, political affiliation and religion, they're people I met in my journey through life. Like me, they're in love with life and they want to make their voices heard.

Just for the record, those who generously gave their time to make the response were two doctors, one nurse, three lawyers, two judges, teachers, retirees, office workers, programmer, journalist, government employee, business people, a writer/blogger, housewives and three former beauty queens from my home city of Cagayan de Oro and hometown of Tagoloan, both in Misamis Oriental, northern Mindanao, Philippines.

Safe to say that the responders cut across all sectors of society. Those that earned the most likes said that attitude and acceptance were keys to aging gracefully. 

Other comments include exercise and diet, having close community and family ties, singing, dancing, skin care and good sleep. Family bonding earned quite a number of likes as well as staying focused in life and using dependable beauty products

In rough order of importance, here are the secrets to aging gracefully from my friends. 

Taken from drstandley.com

Acceptance:  As you get older, it’s important to accept the fact that you’re no longer capable of certain tasks and instead find replacement activities.

Ronnie Dennis, my husband, was the first to respond with ‘acceptance” Ronnie is 67 years old who loves life. He retired but he never tired of life. 

Though he is restricted in doing certain things because of pain and his myriad medical issues which have kept him low to the ground, but he's still happy.  

Zaida Eduave--An epitome of what beauty is all about I remember her as a beautiful woman every time I saw her at their house in Tagoloan town, Misamis  Oriental. She is the daughter of my teacher and sister of my classmate Nonalyn Eduave Zamudio. “Accepting changes and indulge in meaningful and positive activities like family bonding and uplifting oneself spiritually,” she said.

Urcel C Mulvey--Acceptance of the reality that we will all grow old. Life cycles or cycle of life, characterizing the course of one's existence of a person. Urcel Mulvey is a town mate who got crowned Miss Tagoloan several years ago and now resides in New York. 

She said acceptance is easier said than done but there are tools to make it easier. How to accept the ways things now requires laughter and smiles, Urcel said.

Anette Tooby, Cristina Pinon, Yeng Adis and Adelle Flores—while these four women live very far from each other, they are of the same certain age and I assume they talk in unison about having fun, smiling and laughing in order to age gracefully. 

Ma Theresa Camannong summarized it all by saying ‘I always find the funny side of everything.” As a judge, Camannong may be enjoying herself in the courtroom no matter how serious the proceedings could be. 

From promotehealthwellness.com

Attitude. It was Adelia Fallar who posted that attitude in life helps people age gracefully. Attitude is a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person's behavior. 

I love what Peter Mojica mentioned about keeping stress at bay by having a positive attitude in life. I agree with Adelle Flores though it's hard to do it. “Go with the flow of the river of life.” 

It's hard for some people because they never know if the river is deep or shallow. I guess it has more to do with sometimes going with the current. Some may see it as conformity but for others it is an affirmative posture. 

This positive outlook should not be a one shot deal. It should be everything you do as in “be positive in everything”, Cristina Pinon said. But it's easier when people surround themselves with other people who share their outlook. 

How? Kathryna Ronquillo Antone nailed it by saying that people “surround themselves with positive people......then people have less reason to soak in worries.”

Another friend, Tonette Batoon Asay said ‘if there is a joke laugh it loud. Humor starts the day right!.” Olive Pacuribot said happiness should only be on the  outside but inside too. 

My long time loyal friend Dadie Maribelle Magallanes suggested thinking positive always while Maria Wilma Jalalon Acenas also said aging gracefully means being happy inside. 

Superkeng Quoi said a good perspective and outlook in one's life keeps people young while former Miss Cagayan de Oro Happy Ballesteros Raagas said aging gracefully means “taking responsibility for one's happiness and consciously doing good by avoiding body toxins like cigarettes and alcohol.” 

“Also, always smile,” she said. My godson, lawyer James Judith said aging gracefully is like maintaining a car. “Always change the oil,” he said. Don't know what he meant by that but it may mean changing gears every once in a while.

I think that's also what government information officer Amy Ubalde Baino meant when she also mentioned about “changing oil” to keep young.

Jonathan Robosa said one should eat oatmeal and exercise regularly while former Miss Cagayan de Oro titlist Lerma Only mentioned about walking daily and using sea salt as body scrub.

Another friend, Glenda Mori Blair, mentioned skin care and good sleep while another judge, Cris Lyn, said one should keep a healthy mind, body and spirit and lots of creams in order to age gracefully.

Dr. Stella Lawsin posted "good aesthetician". Melody Imbing @ Ming Koh Ming, who distributes beauty and health products, added that people should use Royale Products to keep young. Right Ms. Melody?

Taken from nestle.org

Dorena Buten Reynolds (Doreen Buten Bordious Reynolds), said singing and dancing are essential while writer Ricardo Maullion said aging gracefully means spending time in study, sports, creative writing, God and community. 

Close family ties was mentioned by Zaida Eduave while my cousin Mavieh Adis Collins emphasized faith in God as an ingredient to aging gracefully. Health and beauty experts I searched online also suggested this.Dolly Wheeler shared this view about spiritual growth.

My friends in England Ruth Chamen on being happy and David Breden mentioned about eating spaghetti bolognese topless. He added 'and alone."  My favorite obstetrician and gynecologist Caroline Orimaco said peace of mind as important. Mavieh also said being happy means ignoring negative criticism to keep a stress-free life.

To end this thread, I quote Lynn Lorenzo-Polk who said people should stay positive and make lemonade out of lemons. To be oneself and not let anyone change you and to look forward when things don't turn out good.

Lynn also said people should always be nice to others and not think of themselves as better than anyone else. Criticism should be held off unless absolutely needed.

“Life is better than you think because in the end, you should always know that God loves you and that should make one smile and stay young,” she said.

In the words of my favorite hairstylist Carla Salvana, one should live life fabulously.
People should stop comparing themselves to others and learn to be content with what one has rather than being jealous of others. 

Another useful attitude is to choose to believe the better option. For example, if your partner often works late, accept that he is overwhelmed with deadlines instead of telling yourself that he just doesn’t care enough to spend time with you. 

Or as another friend in the Cagayan de Oro media, Mike Banos, would say “you talkin to me?.” To paraphrase a line by the great comedienne Phyllis Dillier “So what if your back goes out more than you do?

With these suggestions from friends, all wise beyond years, you can be full of punch and strength no matter how old you are. Thank you to all my friends. Hope I didn't miss any of your comments.
PS:thanks to Irma Libo-on for the video. Dont forget to click and read words in color you may find the secret of aging.
Well I almost forgot read a book. 

Taken from healthnews.com

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who worked as a nanny and is now employed as a sub-teacher and a part-time teacher assistant in one of the school systems in the Carolinas.

Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.
You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063) 

Giving room for the vaginas to breathe

Taken from medicaldaily.com

by Susan Palmes-Dennis 

IF mothers know better, then grandmothers know best.

I'm reminded of my mother (Nanay) and grandmother (Lola) after reading online about feminine hygiene. It was just a line about “let the vagina breathe” that I was reminded of the two important women of my life. 

Why? These two women in my life said something about letting the vagina or in the Visayan dialect ”bisong” breathe a little. 

It was not explained to me nor did I ask them what they meant. In my mind, I had to ask why should we girls and women allow the “bisong” to breathe when it is part of our bodies already and it doesn't have a nose. 

I forgot about it until yesterday when I read online about certain underwear that are good for the vagina. Let the vagina breath, I can hear my mother and grandma tell me. To which I responded are you kidding me?

Flowers
A little throwback: back in the days after the end of the school year I would be spending a month with my Lola Mimay nee Geronima Ejem Espellarga. She lived that time in Diclum, Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon province.

Those were the times when days are longer and nights are shorter which gives children enough time to play. I can still recall the fresh air and the humming of the birds. 

My lola would always remind me before retiring for the night to wash my “flower” so that it can breathe. Sure enough she had a ready “gallon of water for me.” 

But what I considered most memorable would be attending the Mass every Wednesday at the Chapel of Mrs. Dolying Tugot because it would mean a lot of “suman” (plain sticky rice) or “biko” (sticky rice sweetened with brown sugar) afterwards.

It was one of those times when we chanced upon a group of young women aged between 18 to 22 years old who wore fitting clothes. It was only later when I realized that these women may have come from a golf course in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon province near Mrs. Tugot's place.

But that's not the story, the story is all about my lola's comment when she saw those young ladies. She commented that their “flowers couldn't breathe.” 

No answers
That was the second time she mentioned about a feminine private part and the importance of breathing.

Without me asking or my lola talking to me, she said something like “ka pioot ba pahangini sad na ninyu inyu flower (That's so tight, please give some air to your flower).” I don’t know if they heard my lola say it as she was actually talking to herself. But I heard her say it and I can still recall it to this day. 

Then as I grew older my Nanay would remind me about the same thing, saying a female's privates should always be cleaned to allow it to breathe.

In fact if you can remember I wrote once about the “underappreciated napkin” and that I used layers of petticoats during my regular periods instead of using tight shorts in order to allow the vagina to breathe. 

Now I read that part and I was reminded about what my Nanay and Lola said and it could be true right? Because they are not around anymore and my little Susie and Arianne might ask me one of these days about it and I have no answers for them.

Feminine hygiene
Back in those days I have no idea whether it was true or funny at all. Right now I thought that was funny. 

Naturally the vagina should stay clean and dry enough to breathe. If not, women should wash it because of the pH content and the risk of infection. What a woman wears can affect the health of their vaginas. 

My Nanay also commented about those mother-daughter moments especially when talking about the a vagina or ”bisong” and how it should be given time to breathe. 

I'm only amazed I didn't laugh out loud so many times when talking about it with my mom. And now many years later, here I am having read about an online post which I could not find now (thanks senior moments) on feminine hygiene and I am reminded about the topic.

Anyway the obvious first tip for women in allowing the vaginas to breathe is not to wear tight underwear or pants. A little online research and I found that certain types of fabrics and styles worn close to the genitals can raise heat and moisture. 

Comfortable
This can lead to bacteria overgrowth and infections. So women, please avoid wearing tight clothes to prevent this problem from happening. I Googled and saw that ancient women had no universal rule in undergarments.

People wore what was comfortable, available, or necessary for modesty -- or nothing at all. So wearing nothing is not only a fad of the present, it had been done before.

Since the vagina is producing acid by itself and acid produces heat I think then it should be given a little space to make it comfortable. Yep, if only the vaginas can talk it would really complain that we use tight jeans too much.

Well I have to analyze the comments of my Nanay and Lola in light of the present environment. I think what they meant then has something to do with wearing cotton underwear. 

Synthetic fabrics can exacerbate the acid. There are women who don't wear underwear just like their ancient counterparts. How I wish I can do that but my age requires me to wear one because I leak most of the time. 

Air out
I could not hold my urine anymore. It comes with age I guess.  I am "leaky" pretty frequently. Still, I just need to be free and let my vagina "breathe." I don't know, it's just a feeling I get where I feel like I need to air-out.

There would nothing wrong if you wear cotton underwear. What about a thong? Would wearing that help because it occupies only a part of the butt? I have no idea as I don’t use one. 

It is strange that I am reminded of my Lola and Nanay in the ways of the present. But I know now what they meant by it.  There would nothing wrong if women wear cotton underwear and avoid thongs. 

Try not to wear tight-fitting clothing and change sweaty workout and wet clothing. So to the women reading this post, let the vaginas breathe and they may have less than one thing to worry about.

Taken from healthcareasia.org

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who worked as a nanny and is now employed as a sub-teacher and a part-time teacher assistant in one of the school systems in the Carolinas.

Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.
You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)