We all know we’re unique. You were probably told as a child that you were special, one of a kind. And, no doubt, for a lot of reasons, it’s true!
Aside from your quirky sense of humor and the eclectic traits that make you you, there are actually many physical aspects that make you unique. Literally one of a kind.
While fingerprints are usually where our minds go, they are but one of many aspects of your body that carry your individual signature.
As part of your 100 Year LifestyleⓇ, you should be aware of, respect, and take good care of your uniquely you body!
Walk This Way
Believe it or not your gait (your walking signature) is absolutely unique. Your stride length, posture, limb movement, and rhythm form a pattern. That pattern can be used to identify you and your current mood and health.
According to Scientific American, this knowledge combined with an extremely sensitive sensor monitoring system, have opened the door to noninvasive monitoring of someone’s health with 95% accuracy.
If you want to walk your healthy longevity talk, be aware of your gait, knowing any changes could indicate a physical issue.
The Eyes Have It
They’re called “the window to the soul,” and it’s true that when you stare into someone’s eyes (including your own) you are looking at a one-of-a-kind body part. It’s the iris, the swirls and pits in the colored part of the eye, that is entirely different for each one of us.
It also controls the amount of light you see by dilating to let more light in and contracting to let less light in, something we all want to work for our entire life!
All Ears
When it comes to ears, no two are the same. Even the two ears on your head are different from each other. They are so unique that the geometry of ears is now being used in biometric identification with a study claiming accuracy of 99.6%. From a healthy longevity standpoint, your outer ear is what captures and directs the sound ways to your middle and inner ear so that you can hear.
Good hearing and inner ear functioning are crucial for balance at any age. With mobility being a key component of preserving independence, we should all take care of and appreciate our ears!
Raise Your Voice
Even before our phones told us who was calling, we could identify the caller by the sound of their voice. Our tone, pitch, rhythm, and resonance all make us one of a kind.
Partially due to the physical shape of our vocal tract and partially our learned behaviors (think regional dialects and family influence), our voices are unique. Imagine going just a single day without speaking at all and you’ll begin to appreciate your voice. Vocal health includes respiration, articulation, and posture. Stay clear, heard, and connected your entire life by taking care of your voice!
Sink Your Teeth Into
If you’ve ever watched a single crime drama on T.V. no doubt someone’s dental records were involved. It’s true. Between the teeth we are born with and our nutrition, systemic health including inflammation, and dental or dental cosmetic procedures we have, our teeth are truly a unique signature of us. Take care of them for a healthy long game.
Read My Lips
Yes, the lines and grooves on your lips make you one of a kind! Back to those T.V. crime shows, if you’ve ever seen the detectives gather drinking glasses or cigarette butts as evidence, it’s because those lip prints are identifiable. The forensic technique of identifying those patterns is called cheiloscopy. And with the exception of new scars, the patterns remain unaffected during a person’s life. Your lips are the gateway for not only your expression, but also hydration and nutrient intake. Take care of those lips.
Keeping It All Together
While this isn’t a complete list, you’re beginning to get the picture. Literally from your head to your toe, you are one of a kind! But remember, with uniqueness comes great responsibility and you should also realize how every choice matters.
While some things will be static our entire lives, many things are actually a reflection of what is happening to us both externally and internally.
If you think of your body as a car, your goal isn’t to let everything go “bad” and then replace the parts or even buy a new car. The objective is to maintain the parts and preserve the car, so it has a long, useful life.
By being aware of how unique and special you are, hopefully this will give you a better perspective on how your body, like your personality, is uniquely yours. And that’s for a lifetime. If you want to keep functioning into your 80s, 90s, and beyond, then be sure to take care of all the parts.
Whether you’re walking in the sunlight, speaking to someone, or enjoying a good meal, realize nobody else does it like you!
Could you use some help learning how to lean into and take care of your unique 100 Year LifestyleⓇ?
Find a completely unique, amazingly qualified 100 Year LifestyleⓇ provider near you today!