In Fitness & Movement I already wrote it: exercise and togetherness belong together for me. A brisk walk with a friend, going to the gym together, or cooking a good meal together after a workout. It is rarely only physical.
This page is about that other part of a vital life, just as important: the people around you and how you stay warmly connected to them (or become connected again) after 50.
The 4 Pillars of Connection After 50
1. Exercising Together as a Couple
Moving together is one of the easiest ways to spend quality time with your partner, without it having to be a heavy “talk.” In the book I stress the importance of real attention for each other instead of a focus on performance. That applies just as much outside the bedroom as in it.
2. Nurturing and Expanding Your Social Circle After 50
Friendships often need a bit more deliberate attention after 50 than they used to. Regular colleagues eventually drop away, and children become independent. A fixed weekly workout date, walking group, or club is one of the easiest ways to build new, valuable contacts again.
3. Connecting with Your (Grand)Children
Staying vital mostly means you can keep taking part: getting down on the floor to play with your grandchild and getting back up smoothly, or keeping up on an active bike ride. For me that has been just as big a motivation as my own physical health.
4. Single and Active After 50
Not everyone has a steady partner or family living nearby. When you are on your own, staying active matters even more. The social side of exercise and club life then counts all the more toward your daily enjoyment of life and vitality.