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I once heard someone say there are three things you must pay attention to if you want a healthy, happy life:
Elimination.
Circulation.
Recreation.
I don’t remember where I heard it. I just remember thinking it sounded too simple to be wrong.
It wasn’t wrong. It was just early.
1. Elimination: Or, When the Body Calls a Meeting
Something quietly checked out of my digestive system when I turned 65.
No warning.
No announcement.
Just… silence.
I couldn’t “move the crowd” like I used to. And if you’ve ever experienced that kind of silence from your own body, you know it comes with panic.
Every morning became a motivational speech:
Alright… today’s the day. We’re going to make something happen.
Nothing.
Eventually I worked up the courage to get a colonoscopy. I was scared. Apparently very scared. The nurses were chuckling because I was 65 and had never had one.
I wasn’t offended. I was vulnerable, because I thought something was wrong; I was trying to calm my mind.
The doctor looked at me calmly and said:
“You need to increase the amount of raw green leafy vegetables you eat.”
That was it.
No prescriptions.
No dramatic diagnosis.
And that was the solution to the revolution.
2. Circulation: I Still Think I’m Younger Than I Am
I’m an ex-athlete. Emphasis on ex.
I don’t exercise the way I used to, but I love long scenic walks. NYC streets. Large bodies of water. Mountain views. Anywhere that reminds me I’m still moving forward.
I miss basketball. Badly.
But I heard something sobering:
The number one cause of injury in older men is still thinking they’re younger men.
That one landed.
So I made a grown-man adjustment. I took up pickleball.
I get a little sweat.
I feel alive.
And I don’t wake up injured and confused about what happened.
That’s the extent of my circulation program.
I keep saying I’m going to get a full-body massage.
Haven’t done it yet.
I’ve heard enough stories to know that deep relaxation can sometimes create… misunderstandings.
I’ve decided not to test that theory just yet.
3. Recreation: Retired… Technically
I’m retired, technically.
Which just means I don’t have a boss, but I still have bills. So I need to earn a little bit. Not a lot. Just enough to stay independent, useful, and sane.
If I’m going to work into my 70s, it’s going to be doing something I actually want to do.
So I decided to learn online marketing.
I’m a salesman by profession. Always have been. One day I saw Ellen DeGeneres selling beauty products in an infomercial.
She’s a comedian.
I said to myself, If Ellen can sell beauty products, I’ll be damned if I can’t.
I’m a second-generation cosmetologist. This is literally in my blood.
So yes, my recreation now looks like learning funnels, writing copy, and figuring out how to sell something online without leaving my house.
For me, that’s not stress.
That’s play.
What I’ve Learned
Health isn’t complicated. It’s honest.
If you can’t eliminate, nothing moves forward.
If blood doesn’t circulate, life feels smaller.
If you never recreate, the spirit shuts down quietly.
Your body will always warn you.
It starts with whispers.
But a nervous system that feels hunted can’t rest, repair, or be creative.
Eventually, it demands your attention.
I recommend listening early.
This isn’t medical advice. It’s personal experience. Always talk to your healthcare provider about what’s right for you.