It's the consistency I would like to see. I'm usually ready for bed about midnight or 1 am except for the nights when I can't keep my eyes open at 9pm. I'm sure it's a reflection of the fact that my days are completely inconsistent too. Consistency, like patience, is not a long suit for me.
Sorry to hear about your curtailment of hiking. Had same due to a broken leg over the winter now fighting hard to get it all back. Ain’t easy (age76) but I’ll be damned if I’m gonna surrender.
I absolutely love this post!! I feel fortunate to have fallen into the “up before dawn” rythym at an early age. In my thirties. That was a time of signicant trials for me and not a real positive start. But being outside at that hour changed me.
The night routine has shifted around over the years often based on my lifestyle at the time but never will I miss out on those spiritual moments of predawn beauty. It's magic. Now, though, it's to bed about 10 and never up later than 4. It's perfect for my alone lifestyle.
I've struggled with a few health things like most do. Cataracts, small bouts of melanoma, arthritis, dental stuff, etc.
As a 75 yr old I do respect my fellow boomers that take charge of their lives so at 70 I decided to teach high school. Funny how that works. No real deep reason, just seemed like the thing to do and am so happy that I did. I began an education in teaching and admire and am so impressed with the people that always knew teaching was their passion. They deserve a lot of credit.
Took up scuba diving at 69 and found being in that pressurized, quiet, peaceful enviroment with the beauty of those creatures and their underwater lives is an introverts paradise. I crave the spiritual connection with those creatures. Especially the sharks (they are not dumb eating machines).
Anyway, for a blue collar, not formally educated man I feel my spiritual and naturalism life is exquisite. I camp, hike and car travel to beautiful places.
I've never been to Europe or the Galapagos or Peru or St Petersburg or Romania and probably never will but I still see wonderous things.
Snow at the Grand Canyon, overflowing waterfalls in NC, gorgeous, unique sunrises and sunsets everywhere, so many stars that I don't even recognize the sky and on and on.
Get off your butts, boomers. Put down your phones. Get up before dawn and walk your quiet neighborhood. I can attest to an beautiful, fullfilled life after 60 and 70 without being rich.
I want to live forever, although, it would be nice not to live it alone. Lol
Bill, I hope you don't mind, I want to make an article out of this. If I don't hear from you I'm going to hope that's all right. It will be hugely complimentary, no worries!
Julia, I love all of this! So many great points you raise. I'll just say thank you so much for mentioning me in it. As a boomer that refuses to go gently into that good night (love that, too) I really appreciate being included 🙏❤️
Great piece, Julia. Just when you think thou have one problem solved, another medical “opportunity” rears its head! Get back in the saddle they say, but sometimes a friendly stepladder is needed😎
I am 76. I have that 3:30am thing. I think I’ll try the 7:30pm in bed thing. I also walk fast for 2+ miles in hills in the morning. I plan to get back into playing tennis and running whitewater rivers in a kayak this summer. Age is just a number you cannot control. How you act and react is 100% in your control! Thankfully, I am healthy, and I will be pushing back on age for as long as I live. Good luck with your feet!!
I hear when you talk about having no choice in the matter. If I wanted to I could probably start getting up at 2 AM and be wide awake. It’s hard to get to bed early enough to pull off 6.5 hrs of sleep these days.
I remember going to a late movie, then out for a few drinks. That’s definitely off the table lol.
You know I'm on board with this message! though if I encounter the circadian rhythm change, it may take me a while to adapt.
It's been raining here in New Zealand pretty much every day since I arrived, dammit. We have had a few good fishing days, but not as many as I would have liked. The Kiwis have a bunch of holidays in April - Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day - that meant the gym was closed. By Sunday, the lack of movement and bucketing rain finally got to me. 4 mile run Sunday morning in the rain, and boy did that feel good! (Warm rain, as all this weather is coming down from the tropical north.) Thank you as always for a reinforcing message that helps get me out the door!
Love this so much and needed to hear it today, the day before I turn 50, because after feeling like I had a handle on the whole perimenopause, middle-of-the-night anxiety wakeups, I'm back to where I was before hormone therapy. Even worse, because now I'm having trouble getting to sleep too.
For years, I wouldn't allow myself to write at this time, even when I felt the call, because it just amped me up and delayed sleep even further, but I'm starting to think I need to just embrace this change, go with the flow while I'm in this stage, and take advantage of the time.
I wish I could remember the source of an article about what someone did with insomnia. It was a sales pitch for an online program, of course it was, but the article itself suggested to bull through the day, do something physical, and often the tired body just took over. That said, I'm doing my best not to resent the changes. If anything I get to reconsider what I do with early evenings, which are a gift I got back. You are so welcome, Kristi.
7 years ago, I was needing a cane or walker to get around. Lost some weight (by surgical means - doing whatever you have to for results), and then started walking early at sunrise. Walking every morning has made the biggest difference for my health. Turned 70 in January - and will keep on keepin’ on f pop the foreseeable future!
Those small hours before the sunrise are magical! For some reason, every job I've worked since college has had me getting up crazy early, except for a 10 year stint on night shift. But, even then those were the best hours. I'd just go to sleep shortly after, lol! Now I'm so used to it that I rarely sleep past 0430, even on a day off.
Its great to hear that you're close to walking again! That's amazing!
I got a great big kiss from a cheetah a while back. I've been working on animals for a while, and the outcome is quite often a kiss. Sometimes from creatures with big teeth, sometimes a trunk, sometimes a muzzle. I'll take all of it!
It's the consistency I would like to see. I'm usually ready for bed about midnight or 1 am except for the nights when I can't keep my eyes open at 9pm. I'm sure it's a reflection of the fact that my days are completely inconsistent too. Consistency, like patience, is not a long suit for me.
Pardon me while I laugh in agreement.
Sorry to hear about your curtailment of hiking. Had same due to a broken leg over the winter now fighting hard to get it all back. Ain’t easy (age76) but I’ll be damned if I’m gonna surrender.
It's been a minute. I miss my hikes, and can't wait.....
I absolutely love this post!! I feel fortunate to have fallen into the “up before dawn” rythym at an early age. In my thirties. That was a time of signicant trials for me and not a real positive start. But being outside at that hour changed me.
The night routine has shifted around over the years often based on my lifestyle at the time but never will I miss out on those spiritual moments of predawn beauty. It's magic. Now, though, it's to bed about 10 and never up later than 4. It's perfect for my alone lifestyle.
I've struggled with a few health things like most do. Cataracts, small bouts of melanoma, arthritis, dental stuff, etc.
As a 75 yr old I do respect my fellow boomers that take charge of their lives so at 70 I decided to teach high school. Funny how that works. No real deep reason, just seemed like the thing to do and am so happy that I did. I began an education in teaching and admire and am so impressed with the people that always knew teaching was their passion. They deserve a lot of credit.
Took up scuba diving at 69 and found being in that pressurized, quiet, peaceful enviroment with the beauty of those creatures and their underwater lives is an introverts paradise. I crave the spiritual connection with those creatures. Especially the sharks (they are not dumb eating machines).
Anyway, for a blue collar, not formally educated man I feel my spiritual and naturalism life is exquisite. I camp, hike and car travel to beautiful places.
I've never been to Europe or the Galapagos or Peru or St Petersburg or Romania and probably never will but I still see wonderous things.
Snow at the Grand Canyon, overflowing waterfalls in NC, gorgeous, unique sunrises and sunsets everywhere, so many stars that I don't even recognize the sky and on and on.
Get off your butts, boomers. Put down your phones. Get up before dawn and walk your quiet neighborhood. I can attest to an beautiful, fullfilled life after 60 and 70 without being rich.
I want to live forever, although, it would be nice not to live it alone. Lol
Bill, I hope you don't mind, I want to make an article out of this. If I don't hear from you I'm going to hope that's all right. It will be hugely complimentary, no worries!
Of course, it's fine.
Thanks so much, Bill. Fellow vet here.
I should edit before posting. I see many spelling and grammar mistakes. Lol
I look forward to reading and enjoying more of your writing.
I corrected them. Posting momentarily. No worries!
Thank you for being so kind to the working guy. It feels good to be me today ❤️
May I steal this, Bill?
Thanks for being real!
Julia, I love all of this! So many great points you raise. I'll just say thank you so much for mentioning me in it. As a boomer that refuses to go gently into that good night (love that, too) I really appreciate being included 🙏❤️
Great piece, Julia. Just when you think thou have one problem solved, another medical “opportunity” rears its head! Get back in the saddle they say, but sometimes a friendly stepladder is needed😎
Amen!
Four days from some trail action! That’s exciting
I am 76. I have that 3:30am thing. I think I’ll try the 7:30pm in bed thing. I also walk fast for 2+ miles in hills in the morning. I plan to get back into playing tennis and running whitewater rivers in a kayak this summer. Age is just a number you cannot control. How you act and react is 100% in your control! Thankfully, I am healthy, and I will be pushing back on age for as long as I live. Good luck with your feet!!
All so very true, Rich! Thank you!
Waking up at 3:30. It’s so fantastic!
I hear when you talk about having no choice in the matter. If I wanted to I could probably start getting up at 2 AM and be wide awake. It’s hard to get to bed early enough to pull off 6.5 hrs of sleep these days.
I remember going to a late movie, then out for a few drinks. That’s definitely off the table lol.
You know I'm on board with this message! though if I encounter the circadian rhythm change, it may take me a while to adapt.
It's been raining here in New Zealand pretty much every day since I arrived, dammit. We have had a few good fishing days, but not as many as I would have liked. The Kiwis have a bunch of holidays in April - Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day - that meant the gym was closed. By Sunday, the lack of movement and bucketing rain finally got to me. 4 mile run Sunday morning in the rain, and boy did that feel good! (Warm rain, as all this weather is coming down from the tropical north.) Thank you as always for a reinforcing message that helps get me out the door!
I so miss Kiwiland….
"Ride it, don’t deride it"
Love this so much and needed to hear it today, the day before I turn 50, because after feeling like I had a handle on the whole perimenopause, middle-of-the-night anxiety wakeups, I'm back to where I was before hormone therapy. Even worse, because now I'm having trouble getting to sleep too.
For years, I wouldn't allow myself to write at this time, even when I felt the call, because it just amped me up and delayed sleep even further, but I'm starting to think I need to just embrace this change, go with the flow while I'm in this stage, and take advantage of the time.
I wish I could remember the source of an article about what someone did with insomnia. It was a sales pitch for an online program, of course it was, but the article itself suggested to bull through the day, do something physical, and often the tired body just took over. That said, I'm doing my best not to resent the changes. If anything I get to reconsider what I do with early evenings, which are a gift I got back. You are so welcome, Kristi.
I gobble up the way you write. It’s like sitting in a front porch at dusk watching fireflies dance to the tune of your voice.
7 years ago, I was needing a cane or walker to get around. Lost some weight (by surgical means - doing whatever you have to for results), and then started walking early at sunrise. Walking every morning has made the biggest difference for my health. Turned 70 in January - and will keep on keepin’ on f pop the foreseeable future!
Those small hours before the sunrise are magical! For some reason, every job I've worked since college has had me getting up crazy early, except for a 10 year stint on night shift. But, even then those were the best hours. I'd just go to sleep shortly after, lol! Now I'm so used to it that I rarely sleep past 0430, even on a day off.
Its great to hear that you're close to walking again! That's amazing!
You are so lucky to interact with the big "kitty!"
I got a great big kiss from a cheetah a while back. I've been working on animals for a while, and the outcome is quite often a kiss. Sometimes from creatures with big teeth, sometimes a trunk, sometimes a muzzle. I'll take all of it!