As a nurse and dementia advocate, I am often reminded that life isn’t just about the years we live, but how we live them. Every day, working closely with the elderly, I’m given the sacred opportunity to witness the direct connection between the choices we make in our youth and the quality of life we experience in our later years.
One of the most eye-opening aspects of my work is seeing, firsthand, how lifestyle choices—what we eat, how we move, how we manage stress, shape the trajectory of aging. It’s a lesson I carry deeply and one that inspired the creation of the Our Forever Young Podcast, which I co-hosted for three years with my dear friend Cherrie-Marie Chiu. Together, we explored the many layers of health and wellness, everything from physical fitness to emotional wellbeing, community engagement to spiritual nourishment. The goal was always the same: to help people live fully and age well.
Two stories in particular continue to stand out in my mind. One of the gentlemen in his late 90s who remained physically active, climbed stairs daily, and needed minimal assistance with personal care. The other, a proud veteran and former bodybuilder, who, though once very muscular and full of strength, could hardly get up on his own in his early 70s. He was still strong in appearance, but the strength didn’t translate into longevity or independence.
These two men painted a powerful contrast. The veteran had clearly invested in fitness, yet perhaps neglected nutrition and cellular health. The older gentleman, however, had lived a life of balance. He ate well, moved gently, and prioritized overall wellness. Even from his bed, he would stretch and do light exercises—proof that aging doesn’t have to mean surrendering.
This contrast gave birth to my realization that being healthy isn’t just about looking strong or doing the latest workout trend. It’s about nurturing our bodies from the inside out. Studies show that over 70% of the immune system resides in the gut, and more than 90% of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, originate there. When we fail to fuel our bodies with proper nutrition, we compromise our future.
I often say that what we deposit into our “health bank” today is what we’ll have to withdraw from in our golden years. The choices we make in our youth, what we eat, how we manage stress, how often we move, how we connect with others, are deposits into our “health account.” When we reach our golden years, we begin making withdrawals. What will be available to us then depends entirely on what we’ve invested now.
One of my favorite quotes is from Heather Morgan: “Every time you eat or drink, you are either feeding disease or fighting it.” How powerful and true.
So I encourage you, open your heart and your mind to the everyday experiences around you. Let them guide you to live more intentionally. Let them inspire you to make better choices—choices that your future self will thank you for.
Truly, life is what you make it, and the fruits of your youth are what you’ll one day harvest.
