Drink from the Fountain of Youth

I know that you are just dying to find out my secret, the secret that has kept my brains cells so viable, my body so strong, my energy so high and my wit so sarcastic! If you must know, I have sipped from The Fountain of Youth! Yes, the real, honest to goodness Fountain of Youth! The one that Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon set out to discover in 1513 and I feel like a new woman!

The Fountain of Youth is a legendary spring that reputedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks of its waters. Even before Ponce de Leon, Herodotus (a Greek Historian, 484 425 b.c.) believed that a fountain containing a very special kind of water was located in the land of Ethiopians, which attributed to their exceptional longevity. Tales of healing waters date to at least the time of the Alexander Romance era and continued right up to the European Age of Exploration (early 17th Century).

Native stories about the curative spring were related to the mythical land of Beimeni (Beminy), a land of wealth and prosperity. The spring was reportedly located on an island called Boinca and was later reported to be located in the vicinity of the Bahamas. According to legend explorers couldnt resist the lure of Bimini and its restorative fountain and many searched long and far to find the fountain. Juan Ponce de Leon was searching for the Fountain of Youth when he landed on the present-day Florida, which he thought to be an island and he named the land La Florida because of all the flowers and vegetation he encountered. Florida is said to be its location, and stories of the fountain are some of the most persistent associated with the state.

Wow, the power of water! As we visited this historical landmark in Florida, it made me realize that many of us havent changed a bit from the early explorers of the world. Arent we all still looking for a Fountain of Youth of some sort? Dont we all truly want that magical pill or that sip of water that will give us back our youth and/or our health? We are explorers of the new world still searching for the answer.

Well, weve found it! Research has proven it, it has changed lives and is more successful than any fountain of youth could ever be and its found right inside of you. The Fountain of Youth is inside of you! As we were driving up to the St. Augustine Fountain of Youth Park, my husband said that there better be a health club located inside its gates if it honestly wants to be a successful fountain of youth. Thats it, exercise! There is nothing in this world that has a greater affect on the aging process and on keeping the human body young and vibrant than the power of exercise.

If you want to stay as young as you possibly can, you must exercise. Exercise alone is our Fountain of Youth! When you exercise your bones, muscles and joints become stronger so that you can continue to do the things in life that keep you young. Exercise gives you and keeps your independence. Exercise allows you to be functional in every aspect of your life. Exercise keeps your internal organs strong and vibrant, so that they are able to function better and fight off infection and diseases as you age. Exercise keeps your brain cells alert and connecting, so that you can think more clearly and act younger. Exercise affects your moods and your energy levels in positive, youthful ways. Exercise enhances social opportunities allowing you to experience every event to its fullest. Exercise keeps your skin looking youthful and bright.

Honestly, its all about exercise, exercise, exercise! There is no Fountain of Youth that can give to you what a regular, comprehensive exercise program can give you if practiced daily! So try it. Drink from the Fountain of Youth of Exercise and experience it for yourself. If you ever find yourself in St. Augustine and happen to stop by the original fountain, it sure wouldnt hurt to take a sip for historys sake!

 

Deborah Holmes

November 11, 2008