"60 is the New 40" is more than a marketing slogan. The phrase is also a metaphor for optimism, as well as a metaphor for good health.
How can 60 really be the new 40? First, there are the demographics. Forty years ago, when today's 40-year-olds were just being born, 40 was a fairly substantial age. In the early 1970s, every 40-year-old had lived through World War II. For the Americans, many of the men fought in the Korean War and some may even have fought in the Vietnam War. In the early 1970s, most women had had their first child by age 25. Today, child-rearing years for adults frequently begin in their 30s and even late into their 40s. Life expectancy in 1970 was approximately to age 71. Today, average life expectancy is to age 79 or 80. Putting everything together, it can reasonably be stated that our "senior years" keep getting pushed further and further back.
"60 is the new 40" means there is plenty of productive life ahead. The phrase implies that, if one is ready, able, and motivated, whole new aspects of living can be explored. Whereas in 1970, 40-year-olds were often beginning to be established in middle-management roles in their white-collar companies, or were becoming shop stewards and supervisors in their factories, today men and women in their 60s are becoming entrepreneurs and launching their own businesses. Backed by a lifetime of experience, people in their 60s are going back to school to get the undergraduate or graduate degree of their dreams, or they're setting up shop for themselves as artists, artisans, or consultants. Regardless of the particular individual choice, the point is that people in their 60s are manifesting the spirit and vision that was previously thought to be the special province of those much younger, specifically, men and women in their 20s and 30s. But it would be a stretch to say that "60 is the new 30", so we'll stick with "60 is the new 40".
But these new activities and endeavors require physical resources and energy.1 If one is not healthy, 60 may in fact not be the new 40. If one is not enjoying good health, then one's focus is usually primarily directed toward getting well. For 60 to really be the new 40, that is, for one to be fully engaged with family, friends, and work, for one to be focusing on the present and maintaining a positive, expectant attitude toward the future, an optimum state of health is required. Such an optimum varies from person to person. What is needed is for us to be functioning at our optimum. Such maximal functioning is based upon numerous factors, including a healthy, nutritious diet,2,3 regular vigorous exercise, and consistent, sufficient rest. Putting these lifestyle choices into place and making these elements of healthy living habitual will go far toward helping all of us make our chronological age irrelevant.
1Caprara M, et al: Active aging promotion: results from the vital aging program. Curr Gerontol Geriatr Res 2013;2013:817813. doi: 10.1155/2013/817813. Epub 2013 Feb 7
2Dickinson JM, et al: Exercise and nutrition to target protein synthesis impairments in aging skeletal muscle. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 2013 Jul 18 [Epub ahead of print]
3Levis S, Lagari VS: The role of diet in osteoporosis prevention and management. Curr Osteoporos Rep 10(4):296-302, 2012
"Shinks ni ""New 40"" ni zaidi ya kauli mbiu ya uuzaji." Maneno hayo pia ni mfano wa kuwa na mtazamo mzuri, na pia ni mfano wa kuwa na afya nzuri. Je, 60 inaweza kuwa kweli 40 mpya? Kwanza, kuna idadi ya watu. Miaka 40 iliyopita, wakati watu wa miaka 40 walikuwa wanazaliwa, umri wa miaka 40 ulikuwa ni umri mkubwa sana. Katika miaka ya 1970, kila mtu mwenye umri wa miaka 40 alikuwa ameishi Vita vya Pili vya Ulimwengu. Kwa Wamarekani, wanaume wengi walipigana katika Vita vya Korea na wengine wanaweza hata kuwa walipigana katika Vita vya Vietnam. Katika miaka ya 1970, wanawake wengi walikuwa na mtoto wao wa kwanza kabla ya umri wa miaka 25. Kwa kawaida, watu wazima huanza kulea watoto wao wakiwa na umri wa miaka 30 au zaidi. Mwaka 1970 watu walikuwa na matarajio ya kuishi hadi miaka 71. Kwa kawaida, watu huishi hadi umri wa miaka 79 au 80. Kwa kuzingatia yote pamoja, yaweza kusemwa kwa busara kwamba "miaka yetu ya uzee" huendelea kusukumwa nyuma zaidi na zaidi. "60 ni 40 mpya"" ina maana kuna mengi ya maisha ya uzalishaji mbele." Maneno hayo yanamaanisha kwamba, ikiwa mtu yuko tayari, ana uwezo, na ana kichocheo, mambo mapya kabisa ya maisha yanaweza kuchunguzwa. Kama vile miaka ya 1970 watu wenye umri wa miaka 40 walikuwa wanaanza kupata nafasi za uongozi wa kati katika makampuni yao ya wafanyakazi, au walikuwa wakifanya kazi kama wasimamizi wa viwanda, leo wanaume na wanawake wenye umri wa miaka 60 wanaanza biashara zao wenyewe. Kwa kuungwa mkono na uzoefu wa maisha, watu katika miaka yao ya 60 wanarudi shule kupata shahada ya kwanza au ya kuhitimu ya ndoto zao, au wanajianzisha wenyewe kama wasanii, mafundi, au washauri. "Hata hivyo, licha ya uchaguzi maalum wa mtu binafsi, uhakika ni kwamba watu katika miaka yao ya 60 wanaonyesha roho na maono ambayo hapo awali ilidhaniwa kuwa mkoa maalum wa wale vijana zaidi, hasa wanaume na wanawake katika miaka yao ya 20 na 30. """ "Hata hivyo, ni muhimu sana kutambua kwamba ""60 ni 30 mpya"" na ""60 ni 40 mpya.""" Lakini shughuli hizi mpya na jitihada zinahitaji rasilimali za kimwili na nishati. - 1 Yohana 6:6-10 Ikiwa mtu hana afya, huenda miaka 60 isiwe miaka 40 mpya. Ikiwa mtu hana afya nzuri, basi kwa kawaida fikira zake huelekezwa hasa kwenye kupata afya nzuri. Ili mtu awe na umri wa miaka 60 na kuwa na afya nzuri, ni lazima awe na afya nzuri. Kiwango hicho cha juu hutofautiana kutoka mtu mmoja hadi mwingine. Kile kinachohitajika ni kwamba tufanye kazi kwa njia bora zaidi. Utendaji huo wa juu unategemea mambo mengi, ikiwa ni pamoja na lishe yenye afya, lishe yenye lishe, mazoezi ya kawaida ya nguvu, na mapumziko ya kutosha. Kuweka chaguzi hizi za mtindo wa maisha mahali na kufanya mambo haya ya maisha ya afya ya kawaida yatasaidia sana kutusaidia sisi sote kufanya umri wetu wa kronolojia usiwe na maana. "Caprara, M. et al. ""Kukuza kuzeeka kwa kazi: matokeo kutoka kwa mpango muhimu wa kuzeeka.""" Gerontol Geriatric Res 2013: 817813. doi: 10.1155 (2013 817813. "Dickinson et al. (JM et al.): ""Mazoezi na lishe kwa lengo protini synthesis ulemavu katika kuzeeka mifupa misuli.""" "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika utafiti wa ""Epub ya Kihistoria ya Ugonjwa wa Osteoporosis"" na ""Epub ya Kihistoria ya Ugonjwa wa Osteoporosis"" na ""Epub ya Ugonjwa wa Osteoporosis"" na ""Epub ya Ugonjwa wa Osteoporosis"" na ""Epub ya Ugonjwa wa Osteoporosis"" na ""Epub ya Ugonja"" na ""Epub ya Ugonja.""" Mfano wa Osteoporosis ni: (Curr.O.P.R. 10:29-46-22, 2012).