Obama is aging and needs bliss

All U.S. presidents physically age more rapidly during their tenures due to the pressures the office puts forth. However, President-elect Barack Obama's aging process will hasten exponentially because of the troubling economy and the ongoing war on terror, and not to mention the stress of being the first black leader of the free world.

From CNN:

..."Chronic stress can produce lots of wear and tear on the body," said James A. McCubbin, a Clemson University professor of psychology and senior associate dean of the College of Business and Behavioral Science. "This is what we see in the changes in the appearance in the beginning and end of the presidency."

Roizen points to the experience of Ronald Reagan.

"When Reagan came into office, he stood up absolutely straight. He was joking and incredibly quick-witted about current events. When he left office, he was hunched over. The age signs on face was there. His jokes were those of olden days rather than current events," he said...

While it was obvious that he was aging during the last few months of the campaign, Obama regularly exercises and has a healthy diet including arugula and Hawaiian pizza, which will contribute to his longevity (of course this is based on him staying away from cigarettes).

Like me, I think he needs more bliss in his life.



I saw the above image on the back cover of the February 2009 Yoga Journal the other day at the gym. The president-elect and I have many things in common; we are both embarking on work this year that will create much physical and emotional tension. For me, I am thinking about doing more exercise, maintaining my diet and experimenting with yoga.

I am even looking more closely at Eastern philosophies these days. No, I am not going Buddhist anytime soon, but this quote interests me.

The Drepung Loseling Institute states:

"Like all major religions, Buddhism contains an explanation of the origin of existence, a morality, and a specific set of rituals and behaviors. ... Buddhism presents a transformational goal, a desire to improve one's situation, and a distinct moral code."

I can already see more chanting opportunities in the Oval Office.