“Optimism and hope are radically different attitudes. Optimism is the expectation that things-the weather, human relationships, the economy, the political situation, and so on-will get better. Hope is the trust that God will fulfill God’s promises to us in a way that leads us to true freedom. The optimist speaks about concrete change in the future. The person of hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands.” Henri Nouwen, Bread For the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith  

It is January 1, 2019. It looks like a beautiful day. Did I make a New Year’s resolution? Yes, I did. I made four. It does not mean that I will keep them!

I look for a future with hope. Hope comes as a whisper in the night. I hope for a glorious future for all the people of the earth.

Look with expectation that there will be a future with a new reign of peace and freedom. Hope to walk on the path of joy and delight in enjoying the pleasure of life.

Studies show that, in the long term, older adults hurt their health far more by not exercising than by exercising.

As a rule, older people should stay as physically active as they can. The National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institute of Health, their research is aimed at improving the health of older people.  Good balance may seem like something we don’t need to worry about until we are aging.

The wobbliness that comes with old age comes as a surprise.  Did you ever take a corner to sharply or quickly and almost topple over? It takes teamwork from three major systems to keep us standing upright.

Take one away: vision or the inner ear, or your internal limb position and balancing becomes trickier. Good balance helps you walk safely and avoid tripping and falling over objects in your way. Exercise will tone and strengthen your lower body and core too.

Falls can leave injuries that you never recover from. Here are some balance-boosting moves from Dr. Oz to ward off the wobbles.  I hope to take the slow-motion Chinese martial art Tai Chi Class to help with flexibility and agility as well as balance. Squats are fun.

They strengthen your quads, hamstrings hips—and this trifecta can help keep a stumble from turning into a fall, says Nick Mastropasqua, general manager and certified personal trainer at Plus One Health in New York City.

Get enough sleep.  Sleep deprivation slows your reaction, says Dr. Oz—not a good thing if you happen to trip!

As we grow old may we remain the perfect model of old age—smiling, enjoying life and passing wisdom and hope on to a new generation.