What is a neo elder? The prefix neo, of course, means new! And that is exactly what the 21st-century elder is.
The Neo Elder™ is unrecognizable in comparison to those just a couple of decades ago. They are healthier. Their bodies are slimmer, more toned, and stronger. They enjoy more freedom. They choose to live in ways that were inconceivable or unavailable to their predecessors. And they are more knowledgeable.
Several key factors have brought about this change. One, in particular, made it possible. Before I discuss them individually, here’s the list.
- The Internet
- Advancements in Knowledge about Fitness
- Advancements in Knowledge about Nutrition
- Advancements in Knowledge about Supplements
- The Spirit of the Baby Boomers
The Internet
The Internet is the most important factor in making the neo elder possible. The information highway, as the Internet is sometimes referred, has allowed for rapid advancement in countless areas including fitness, nutrition, and supplements. In addition, it has given the public unprecedented access to nearly the same information as the experts!
The Internet has also enabled us to be more mobile. For us, that means being able to hit the road in our motorhomes and still stay connected with family, friends, and businesses. For those of us who have built online businesses, we can continue to run them from anywhere in the world.
Advancements in Knowledge about Fitness, Nutrition, & Supplements
The rapid advancement of knowledge about fitness, nutrition, and supplements has been brought about almost entirely by the Internet. The experts in these fields have been able to progress much quicker due to the instant exchange of and access to information. We have benefited tremendously from this activity by having access to a great deal of this information in a variety of forms.
Supplements are vitamins and minerals and such things as fish oil, saw palmetto (prostate health), and psyllium (natural fiber). See full list here: Vitamin Supplements
Information is power. The information we now have access to empowers us to make better decisions about our health and our health care. Medical doctors and dentists no longer have exclusive access to industry information. Therefore, our health care is now a partnership and not a dictatorship.
You are obviously smart enough to see the advantages of having online access or you wouldn’t be reading this now. If you have friends or family members who have not yet discovered the amazing world of the Internet, show them the way!
The Spirit of the Baby Boomers
Baby boomers are those who were born after World War II between the years 1946 and 1964, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. (Just writing WWII feels insane.) They were teenagers or young adults just before, during, or right after the launch of the social changes that were initiated by the hippies and refined by the yuppies.
Most baby boomers participated in or were influenced by what the hippies started in one way or another. One notable person is Steve Jobs who, along with Steve Wozniak, brought the personal computer to the masses. The personal computer is the quintessential example of the utopian vision of the hippie movement. People with these same ideals built cities such as Portland, Oregon and Boulder, Colorado. In addition to being beautiful, these cities have been national leaders in the many important areas that align with the spirit of the 60’s!
I’ve observed many young adults of today living these same ideals, although they probably don’t fully realize where they got them. I don’t know this for a fact, but the founders of Google, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, seem to share these ideals themselves. I’ve noticed many other young entrepreneurs doing the same. I’m greatly impressed by these young men and women.
Most baby boomers refused to accept the status quo. We were unwilling to conform to the lifestyle model of our parents. We sought a different way to live. We demanded and in time we got a new set of social, political, and cultural standards.
This same spirit has brought about the neo elder. Us baby boomers were unwilling to accept the model of past generations on what life is supposed to be like after 50, 60, and beyond.
From experience and with current knowledge, we know we are capable of creating a richer, freer, and more fulfilling lifestyle during our second half than our parents and grandparents. And we are and we will! We are neo elders!