Staying active kept Ms. Mathews going well past 100

On Wednesday morning I attended the free yoga session at Ruta Maya Coffee House. Toward the end of the session we heard a loud clasp of thunder and about five minutes later the sky opened up and we had a torrential downpour. It was the kind of rain storm that gives you a new appreciation for nature. As the rain poured over the gutters and down the street we all stood around and watched basking in the glory of how fast things can change. One minute it was pouring down rain and a few minutes later the sky was blue again and everything was calm and peaceful. We did not have a choice to change the weather, mother nature gave us rain and rain is what we got. In our lives, however, we do have the choice to decide our activities and our daily routine.

As the rain finished I started talking to a classmate who lives in my old neighborhood. In the conversation we somehow began discussing a neighbor who I remembered from the area. When I lived in the area Ms. Mathews could be found walking down the street everyday in her red jacket, red shoes and red hat. She would venture out from her house and go approximately 3 miles to the local community center. A three mile walk isn't that far but in Ms. Mathew's case it is amazing because at the time that I lived in the neighborhood she was 102 years old. I learned today that Ms. Mathew's is now 108 and is currently in a local hospital. Her neighbor said that she attributes some of her longevity to the fact that she walked daily and she said that Ms. Mathew's loved to eat oranges. I wonder if she would have had the same longevity if she was not as active?

So the next time you think you are too tired, too old, or too out of shape to go out and get some exercise think about this amazing woman walking 3 miles each day, crossing South Congress avenue and traveling to the local community center. It really goes to show us that we can accomplish more than we think if we stay healthy and exercise. Our choice to be active can really boost our chances of a long active life.