GRANDPAS AND GRANDMAS OF ENTERTAINMENT

Those of us who think that at 60 and above, it's time to hang up our dancing shoes and put our singing days behind us can draw inspiration from these veterans of entertainment.


Meet 94-year-old Reynaldo Creagh. He was in Singapore last month together with Maracaiboand, 86, and pianist Rubalcaba, 85. Together they are "The Grandfathers of Cuban Music".


Also in Singapore last month was Ruth Flowers better known as DJ Mamy Rock. She first gained fame on the world stage when she spun music at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009. Today at the age of 71, she still gets invited to deejay at prestigious clubs and music festivals all over the world.


The world's oldest showgirl, Dorothy Kloss, is now 87, and still doing her high kicks with the world-renown Palm Spring Follies, an off-broadway revue that celebrates the songs and dances of the 1940s through to the 1970s. What's remarkable about the Follies is their age which range from 50s to 80s.


A trip to LA to see the Palm Spring Follies at Plaza Theatre is definitely on my bucket list. Remember the Diamonds and their 1957 hit "Little Darlin"? They will be performing in the Follies' new season.

These grandpas and grandmas are living the best years of their lives. For them, life has never slowed down, and never been sweeter.

We have all heard this said a godzillion times before: Age is just an attitude. If you think you are old, you ARE old. It's about mind over matter - if you don't mind, it doesn't matter. Age is of no importance unless you are cheese.

Well, as long as we merely know this, but do not internalize it or live it, we will always look old, feel old and be OLD, even at 40.

DEBUNKING MYTHS ABOUT AGEING

Today’s the first day of 2009. Let’s start off the new year on a positive note by debunking some of the myths associated with ageing. When we buy into these myths, we are reinforcing the negative image society has of us. It’s time we put to rest these false beliefs.

Myth #1 – As we age, we become frail and sickly.Not if we take early preventive measures like regular resistance exercise, tai-chi, proper and sufficient nutrition, yearly checks for testosterone deficiency and an active lifestyle.

Myth #2 – As we age, our sexual interest and performance diminish.In a national survey of more than 3,000 U.S. adults aged 57 to 85, it was found that more than half to three-quarters of those questioned remain sexually active. Lack of sexual desire may not necessarily be age-related. Often it could be due to tiredness, stress or simply bedroom boredom. Try something different. Add a little romance, or pop a little blue pill, and enjoy the fireworks under the sheets!

Romance is for everyone!

Myth #3 – As we age, we lose our mental faculties. Memory loss, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia may afflict some older folks but if we keep physically and mentally active when we are young, we can delay the onset of Alzheimer's or stay free of it altogether.

Exercising together can be fun!

Myth #4 – As we age, it’s hard to learn new things.It all boils down to one’s attitude towards learning new things. Old people may take a little longer to figure out how to upload a video on Youtube, but they will get to it.

Myth #5 – As we age, it’s too late to make positive changes in our lifestyles.That’s just an excuse for some people to cling to bad habits like smoking or a sedentary lifestyle. It's never too late where our health is at stake.

Mama Mia! Meryl Streep turns a fabulous 60 this year!

While ageing is a natural process, and all of us go through it, the rate at which we do so is a highly individual experience. Some age faster than others. Some age gracefully, others don’t. It depends on how we approach the process.

We must not underestimate the power of auto-suggestion. As we believe, so we become. If we keep worrying about health problems, we'll not have peace of mind. If we think sexual intimacy is for the young, we’ll never get to enjoy it with our spouse. If we allow society to dictate to us how we seniors should live or behave, we’ll never be free to fully enjoy our second prime.

The MacArthur Foundation Study is the most extensive study to date on ageing in America. The results reveal that it is largely our lifestyle that determines our health and vitality. Only 30% of physical ageing can be blamed on our genes. Now that should come as good news to us. It is within our power to decide how we want to age and how long we want to live.

In their book, "How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life", Mark Victor Hansen, 58, co-creator of the Chicken Soup series, and Art Linkletter, 97, TV host of popular shows like "Kids say the Darndest Things" (I love that show!) have this to share:

"Today we're living so much longer and more productively that age sixty has truly become the new age forty - the prime of life when our careers are in full swing, our minds are at their most creative, and our passions burn their hottest."


Let's celebrate LIFE, and be thankful for all our blessings.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Palm Springs Follies - cast members are 58-84 years young!

Click here for a video preview of their dazzling 3-hour performance.

Enjoy and be inspired to live life whatever your age!