Her hobbies are as varied as her career achievements – event-organizing, choreographing, mountain-climbing, trekking – Mrs J is game for anything that spells FUN and ADVENTURE. Not surprising, considering the years she spent in the Girl Guide movement where she rose through the ranks to the top as Girl Guide District Commissioner of Ulu Langat. It is little wonder that her energetic and bubbly ways didn’t go unnoticed when she was swept off her feet by a certain boy scout, Jagjeet Singh, who today is a partner in running her consultancy. Happily married for the past 45 years, both have maintained their love for the outdoors. They have travelled as backpackers to the far corners of the world, and have scaled the Himalayas SIX times by different routes. Not many young folk – let alone seniors – can lay claim to that feat.
Mrs J is a firm believer in supplements, especially glucosamine chondroitin besides Omega, Vitamins C and E, and anti-oxidants. Her fitness regime includes brisk walking five times a week from 7 to 10 km per session. Although she has a live-in maid, she is hands-on when it comes to domestic work. “It keeps me physically active and alive,” she says. “I’m careful about my diet too. At my age, it’s not the amount, but the food quality and the nutritional value that matters most. Besides, I try to stop before I get too full – I eat less and in smaller quantities. My snacks are a variety of fruit and nuts. I drink a lot of water; No alcohol for me!”
A doting grandmother of five, Mrs J advises seniors to be responsible for their health. “We owe it to our children not to be a burden to them in our old age. Healthy and fit grandparents can help in nurturing their grandchildren. It allows their parents to focus on career demands. We both consider grand-parenting positively and are committed to their day-to-day nurturing. Daily activities like commuting grandchildren around give opportunities for interacting and bonding.” Mrs J and her spouse are domesticated and cook most meals at home. “We enjoy home-cooked food and often have the entire family dining together,” she adds.
Picture perfect – Mr J, 74, and Mrs J, 67
On staying happily married, Mrs. J holds the view that “Couples that do things together stay together. They should also have complete trust in each other, and be deserving of that trust. With the children grown and independent, this is the best time for retired couples to rediscover each other, travel together, enjoy each other’s company and rekindle that romantic spark in their marriage.”
I will be 68 a couple of days from now and, like Ms. J, I am physically active. I eat sparingly, but not on a diet. I am physically active 7/7 but am not on food supplements other than my Kirkland multi-vitamins for seniors.
I love her outdoor life, however. I, too, love to get lost in some remote island every now and then. It is great to get away from city life and to know oneself – http://www.agewithcharm.com/
Hi Michael Manago I dont take supplements any more. That article was published about 10 years ago. I realised that glucosamine chondroitin is not helpful at all. Some orthopedic specialists agree there's no evidence to prove it's effective. I go for natural products and no supplements.