Living with two adventure-oriented males—one a young adult and one young at heart—I’ve watched my fair share of action-adventure movies over the years. Back of the napkin, that means it’s quite possible I have seen a favored movie more than a dozen times. Leading the film pack when our son was a pre-teen was the Indiana Jones franchise, the top pick among them being Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
For those not familiar with the movie, Indiana Jones and his nemesis are both pursuing the Holy Grail, believing that whoever drinks from the cup will be granted eternal life. After successfully evading a good number of booby traps, they come at last upon a deep cavern and an ancient Grail Knight guarding the mythical chalice, cleverly hidden amongst a sea of imposters. Needless to say, the greedy villain rushes to be the first to choose the elusive cup and is warned by the Knight, “But choose wisely, for while the true Grail will bring you life, the false Grail will take it from you.”
As you may know or can guess, the bad guy’s avarice clouds his judgment, and he foolishly selects a lavishly jewel-encrusted chalice to dip into the eternal well. After his first gulp, in a hideous nano-second, his face begins to dissolve and he turns to dust. Poof! The Knight slowly turns to Indiana and somberly states, “He chose…poorly.” It’s Indiana’s turn. Relying on his historical knowledge and wits, he reaches to the back and selects the simplest, most humble vessel, scoops up the water, drinks, and waits… The Knight’s face relaxes into a slight smile as he utters the immortal line, “You have chosen…wisely.”
Choices have power
My husband and I have recited those two classic lines innumerable times over the years, as so many aspects of life seem to boil down to avoiding traps and choosing poorly or wisely. The more I learn and experience in my own life, I’m convinced we are the sum of our choices—big and small, poor and wise—that determine outcomes in every corner of our lives, especially concerning health and well-being. Naturally, there are unfortunate events out of our control, but even those can become a choice in how we react and respond to them.
Not only do our choices have considerable consequences in determining our future, but even the mere act of choosing has a remarkable unforeseen benefit. As Dr. Ellen Langer recounts in her book, The Mindful Body, small changes within a person’s control can have enormous impact. Case in point: in the first study her team conducted with elderly adults in nursing homes, Dr. Langer found that giving the residents the simplest, mundane choices resulted in longer lives.
I believe this to be true. As some of you may remember, my mantra “A lot of little, not a little of a lot” is precisely that…small choices that all add up to big changes. Here are a few of my top choices, my personal holy grails, that cumulatively have the greatest effect on my health and well-being.
Choose not to be lazy. I think laziness must be our natural state because I definitely have to battle against it, but this daily (sometimes hourly) decision is the underpinning for almost every wise choice to come.
Choose gratitude. Our son recently went with his class to Washington D.C., and every time he sent an update text, my husband and I marveled at how blessed we all were by his amazing and indelible experience. That instantaneous spark of joy brightens the day when we choose to look at life with gratitude.
Choose whole foods. When I started caring for my elderly mom, the biggest change in her health came when I switched her diet from mostly processed food to whole, fresh foods. She lost close to 80 pounds and was able to wean herself off of high blood pressure and cholesterol medications. Don’t get caught in the “convenience” trap; it doesn’t equal good health or longevity.
Choose to eat simply. Food doesn’t have to be complicated nor even necessarily fun. For instance, I’m perfectly happy with hard-boiled eggs, a handful of nuts, and sometimes berries for breakfast. This straightforward mindset establishes the tone and expectations for the day.
Choose movement. I purposefully look for opportunities to move during the day, which has cascading benefits from brain health to immunity. Take breaks to walk outside, do deep squats to pick things up, get up and down off the floor to put my shoes on, stand at the kitchen counter to type, and park at the back of the lot…unfussy, everyday choices.
Choose to lift heavy objects. It is imperative to remain strong for a long, productive, and happy health span, so in addition to conventional strength training, I don’t shy away from lifting heavy objects or challenging my grip strength. Every day I make the choice not to make my life easier, but stronger.
Choose to go barefoot. Our feet are our foundation for overall balance and mobility, especially as we age, so maintaining flexibility and strength is vitally important. Going barefoot much of the day in our home has been a game changer. Not only has it resulted in physical improvement, but it has also made me so much more mindful of the importance of balance and movement, not to mention the enormous benefits of grounding.
Choose sleep. This is our superpower and I prioritize my day accordingly: start the day with the morning sun, taper eating mid to late afternoon, forego alcohol on the weekdays, start to wind down early evening, lower the light level, put the devices away, go to bed by about 8:00-8:30, use an eyeshade…all choices within my control.
Choose non-toxic products. I can’t even begin to outline the havoc toxins wreak on our lives. Suffice it to say, I mitigate my family’s exposure to chemicals as much as possible. I choose glass storage containers, stainless steel or cast-iron cookware, all-natural fragrance-free cleaners, non-fluoride oral care, natural personal products…I think you get the picture.
Choose not to scroll. While Instagram is my only social media vice, even for the brief time I’m on it I can see how it can become a time sink and an emotional drain. I have purposefully chosen not to peruse other platforms, and I limit my scrolling to a couple of times a day to catch up on events. I even leave my phone downstairs in the evening to remove any temptation.
Choose solace, solitude, and strength. I start and end my day with prayer. In the morning, I find that it helps me start fresh from the day before, center my thoughts, and deal with ever-present trials, reminding me of what is truly important and inspiring me to take on the day.
It’s your choice
These are but a few examples of the choices I make every day that I see and believe have consequences and effects on my life and goals. At every step and turn, we are faced with forks in the road, different paths to take that lead to different outcomes… It’s all a matter of choosing poorly or wisely in our quest to live well, age great.