The ball sounds like a great idea. As a 63-yr-old, I'm qualified to give
unsolicited advice to youngsters (anyone under 63) and my advice to everyone out
there is: keep all your muscles in good shape. Make sure opposing muscles are
equally developed (using a ball instead of a chair should do this for your torso
& the small muscles of your legs). Eat your vegetables. Exercise in
moderation. Don't develop a TV habit. Try to kick sugar. Take time out to
empty your mind every day. Tell your kids you love them, call them by pet names
like Honey and Sweetheart. Hug them. Ditto your spouse. Remember you're just
a guest here (on earth), not the master. Keep in mind that you're mortal and
skiing down cliff faces could be hazardous to your health (have you ever watched
IMPACT: Stories of Survival -- I think it's on Discovery Health. These people
get engaged in EX-treme sports, crash, break things, burst organs, are somehow
lucky enough to recover, and then go out & do it again. My advice: DON'T!!).
Work puzzles (mind-bending ones, not easy ones). Don't ingest aluminum. Take
lutein. Take glucosamine. Don't take Prednisone for longer than a week. Treat
your pets with as much respect as you'd treat yourself (or more, if you have low
self-esteem). Worship trees. Use bamboo instead of oak for your flooring.
Vary your sports so's not to overdevelop one set of muscles. Use sunscreen.
Get regular physicals. Keep in mind that one day you'll be old, and you'll
handle it better if your body is healthy and strong. Start now. And finally,
listen to your elders (and fer godssakes, please hold the damn door open till we
get there).

I learned all these from experience, of course (except the X-treme sports). As
Will Rogers said: Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes
from bad judgment.

Ann



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