76 | www. Char l es tonPhys i c i ans . com | www.Hea l thL i nksChar l es ton . com When Karen Bostick, 70, neared retirement last year, she made a commitment to herself. She would follow the advice of her 89-year-old mother-in-law. “She told me that I must have a plan. I need to get back to focusing on myself, and I can’t just let it happen,” Bostick said. “I have to make it happen.” Recently, Bostick and several wise retirees in the area offered some words of advice to folks who remain forever curious about how people who live to record-setting ages. Sheldon “Shelly” Revkin, 80, of Mount Pleasant, lives by a seemingly simple yet insightful motto: “I believe in moving.” He and his wife, Madeline, stay busy with a variety of activities, but Shelly believes that their volunteer commitments produce some of the biggest benefits: “Volunteering is giving back, but you also get a lot out of the experience socially and mentally.” Madeline agreed: “When I volunteer, my mind is active, and I learn new things all the time.” One of the first things Bostick did was join the Lowcountry Senior Center on James Island. She quickly discovered that jumping into activities that gave her a sense of purpose opened what felt like doors to youth. “I haven’t felt this fit and alive in decades,” she said. Bon Secours St. Francis Health System in Greenville offers activities for residents through its LifeWise program, which is based on the philosophy that keeping active and having social
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1