Purpose

[clevermanka]

Having a higher purpose in life reduces risk of death among older adults.

Okay, so I might be fucked. I have to eat less and have a higher purpose? Come. On. I can only contradict one of my basic natures. Damn it!

*shakes tiny fist*

The study was done on people in "community-dwelling" environments. Seeing as how I expect to reach near-hermit status in my later years, perhaps these findings will not apply to me.

Of course, not that I've been restricting my calories these past few days. More like piggy-piggy porker face over here. I drowned myself in Chinese dumplings last night.

Calorie Restriction Fail.

Comments

[annamatic.livejournal.com]

Ooo, Chinese dumplings. *hom nom nom* One of the best parts about that is the dumpling dip. That like kind of sweet ginger soy sauce whatever-it-is. OH EM GEE.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yup. Chinese dumplings are one of my favorite foods on the planet. Dear GOD those things are tasty. And I agree, the ginger dip...mmmm....

I could eat another entire plate-full right now.

[annamatic.livejournal.com]

Lordy lord. I just woke up an hour ago and want some. :p

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

Could not your higher purpose be dumpling worship?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think that wouldn't really work so well. I'm not very good at fooling myself into worshiping much of anything. Not even dumplings.

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

Perhaps just dumpling esteem then.

Higher, schmigher.. by whose definition, right?

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

hey, my higher purpose varies from day to day.

Sometimes it's simply to be entertaining.

On a bad day, I'd say it's to spread discontent.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

From the article:

"Purpose in life reflects the tendency to derive meaning from life's experiences and be focused and intentional"

"the tendency to derive meaning from life's experiences and possess a sense of intentionality and goal-directedness"

This is promising, though: They asked the questions "I used to set goals for myself, but that now seems like a waste of time;" and "My daily activities often seem trivial and unimportant to me." Well, I don't really set goals for myself, and my daily activities are very important to me. If they weren't important, I wouldn't be doing them.

So maybe I'm already ahead of the game.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Right. That's the way I read it too.

My life experiences have meaning to me, if not "higher" purpose. And I'm certainly intentional in my doings, although like you, I'm not so keen on the goal-setting. And hell, when I'm 80, I'm sure my goals will be something along the lines of keep gettin up and gettin on with my daily activities! ;)

It seemed more to me that the statements are a sign of depression than a lack of purpose.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Good point. Avoiding depression I can do. Looking to a higher purpose? Unlikely.

[theoneinblue.livejournal.com]

If I were you, I'd totally be on a Calorie Restriction Fail streak. You should have seen me after the pregnancy when I could finally have some foods I'd been missing...I think you can cut yourself a little bit of slack. ;)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Perfect icon for your comment.

Yeah, I'm totally cutting myself slack.

I anticipate eating myself silly for several days. I'll get sick of it soon enough, I'm sure. I hope. =D

[theoneinblue.livejournal.com]

Love the icon!

dumplings! mmmmmmmmmrar

[femfataleatron.livejournal.com]

I could go all Ertha Kit on some dumplings.
Why is living longer a big deal anyway... I hear hamstring flexibility correlates well with longevity too.
I don't want to live longer, I want to live just the right amount, and not a moment more! ... And if some tasty dumplings bathed in a gingery sauce can help, then point me at 'em.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

You bring up some very good points, sir.

The hamstring flexibility thing...are you serious? I should just throw in the towel at this point. Man.

[femfataleatron.livejournal.com]

just another verse in the litany of failures....

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

This whole discussion is making me feel like my life has no purpose.

Oh. Wait.

[theoneinblue.livejournal.com]

Uh, yeah, me too...

[amjhawk.livejournal.com]

Your higher purpose could be not being a slave to a higher purpose!

[stuology.livejournal.com]

If it were *me* facing those dietary restrictions for so long, the entire week after they were gone would be an all you can eat buffet.

For example, after my 9-month ban on sushi I think I ate almost 3 rolls all by myself my first trip back.

[stuology.livejournal.com]

My only long term goal was to be completely out of my gourd by the time I was 75. And to never, ever, *ever* wear my shirt tucked into my pants, except after the age of 75 only because it will add a comedic touch to my insane ramblings.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

My only long term goal was to be completely out of my gourd by the time I was 75

Having kids will probably help you attain that.

[stuology.livejournal.com]

Possibly 30 years ahead of schedule even!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I had some sushi last night, too. Not good sushi, but hey. Cheap sushi was good enough. Mmmm. Next time, though, you bet it'll be Yokohama.

Today for lunch I had the Buffalo Chicken Salad at Bigg's BBQ. I haven't had fried chicken in over a year. It was good.

[lightonthesill.livejournal.com]

Let's not discuss the caloric fail of the mint chocolate chip ice cream that is mostly not in the freezer anymore.

Being happy contributes to longevity. And there are many roads to happiness. Including dumplings and mint ice cream.

;-)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I hear you and I agree that happiness is important. But it's also important to keep off extra weight. And not let it creep back on!

I'm not obese, but my bone structure (tiny) would allow me to shed several more pounds of body fat and be much healthier.

[lightonthesill.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. Happiness and health go hand in hand in that longevity equation. Likewise, I seem to have hit a healthier set point...and know there are another 10 or so pounds I could loose and firm up to hit my "ideal" weight health wise. I've been battling the creep over the past couple weeks. It's a bit like remembering to take medication when one feels healthy. When I've kept the weight off comfortably I forget that it's because I've been Doing things to maintain that. And several days in a row of eating what ever I want in fact, has consequences. *gasp*

Did start doing your magic but squeezes yesterday again though. Have the Fear of Fringe Fest in me now. *chuckle*

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Glute Squeezes FTW.

[fireguarder.livejournal.com]

This (http://www.leancuisine.com/products/details.aspx?ProductID=53) has made being on Weight Watchers ever so much easier. The rice is meh but the dumplings are yummy.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Interesting!!!

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

Oh but what a way to go. I make Chinese dumplings every so often so that we can really be pigs.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

*oink*! and *mmmm!*

If you ever care to share your recipe sometime...you know whom to call. Right?