The power of books

Waking up to the sun streaming in through my bedroom window I feel its good to be alive. The body seems to be performing reasonably well considering the mileage, although, sods law will strike me down in an hour of writing this. My room is lined with books, they are my friends and companions when I need a bit of a lift. Each contains an insight into someone else's life and one can be fascinated by the rich tapestry of characters in history, philosophy, science, business and sport, all one has to do is to reach out and pluck any book from the bookcase, in a minute you are lost in another world learning and being stimulated in a very real way.
The mind is our last resource as the body and the lungs slowly give out, it remains as young and as absorbent as we want it to be and, of course, it reconnects us to our own history and the people who played a part in it.
The issue of remaining fit and able to walk, to get about is also fundamental since I suppose there will come a time when I can't !  Does one engage in a fitness frenzy to elasticate the muscles for as long as one can, spending precious hours on a treadmill ?
Of course the benefits of being fitter and feeling better, more stimulated, the option of congregating with others and being a part of the community is also worthwhile.

Its a question of balance,  a question of growing old gracefully or perhaps as

Dylan Thomas wrote :-
"Do not go gentle into that good night.
Old age should burn and rave at close of day.
Rage rage against the dying of the light"

Alternatively maybe

Omar Khayyam :-
The Worldly Hope men set their hearts upon.
Turns Ashes - or it prospers, and anon,
Like snow upon the Deserts dusty face.
Lighting a little hour or two - and is gone.