Is aging well a chore?
Do you find aging well is a chore? Do you feel like you are being told that you have to do all sorts of annoying things to stay healthy?
But wait a minute. Aren’t we just keeping on doing all those things we did as young adults?
Between 20 and 40 I used to go to the gym, do yoga, do weights at home, try to eat healthy, do puzzles and problems for brain strength, journaling, hobbies and work full time and look after a young family.
Sure I’m older now and very glad that I don’t have to work full time or look after my family (very much) anymore. Aging has meant that I don’t have enough energy to successfully do it all. I just do the self care stuff.
I still journal and exercise and work my brain and eat as healthy as possible and do some great hobbies. Why would I think these things are being imposed on me? I see them as the things a human needs to do to live a good life.
Take exercise for example
I do my Essentrics routines because they
Stretch and strengthen my muscles
Strengthen my feet and ankles
Result in good posture
Result in good balance
I do my dumbbell weights routines because they
Slow muscle wasting
Help to build muscle
Help to maintain muscle use
Possibly maintain mitochondria numbers
Keep my bones strong
I now do step routines on my step bench because they
Strengthen my core
Strengthen my leg muscles
Maintain rapid twitch muscle response
Help with balance
Improve cardio health
I have lots of time now I am retired, so I have the opportunity to work at reducing the affects of aging.
Why do I bother?
At my age it takes effort to stay strong, flexible and energetic.
I do it because every now and then I want to be able to
Put my carry on bag in the overhead locker
Carry my shopping home from the city
Step on and off trains and buses without losing my balance
Carry my luggage up the steps when the lift or escalators are out of order
Go on walking tours
Sit up on the stool at the cafe counter ( I like to people watch from this higher level)
Run for the boarding gate
Sit on the floor
Lift a heavy frying pan
Get in and out of my car or a taxi without hurting my back
Get up and down off the floor
Twist a lid off a jar
and whatever else you can think of.
So when you read those publications that say you should be journaling or exercising or doing hobbies or eating certain foods it’s a good idea to do it rather than complain that you have too much to keep up with.
After all, why are we still here if not to work at enjoying life more?
Getting old is a gift
Trying to reduce the affects of aging works for me because I really want to keep doing all those things in the list above for as long as possible. I want to do them for 10 more years not just 5 more years. Sure, maybe after 10 years I will have to make some adjustments because no-one can defy the affects of aging, but I am not just going to sit back and accept it sooner than I have to.
I also like to do nothing sometimes. But something I have discovered is that being strong and flexible makes it easier to do nothing for long periods of time.
So do you really think staying strong and healthy and smart is a chore?
Cheers,
Val
I love this. We do not ask why enough. It is much more motivating to think why we are exercising if we think about the benefits it brings in our daily life. And that life is indeed a gift.