Thanks for your motivational essay and your mention, Julia! I've found myself loving the challenge of conquering my phobia/fear--internal summits rather than external ones. One of those summits is the water, and I'm proud of myself for having the courage to learn swimming from scratch in my 5th decade of life. Swimming has become a new passion and a gift that keeps on giving. And as you said, it's the habit that moves us forward, not the goal. I just keep attending my weekly classes and do self practice once a week. I've been making progress. Never would I have dreamed that I could swim laps without fear in this life time! Besides conquering the fear of water, I've also realized how pursuing this new hobby/sports has taught me to stay in the body instead of in the head. Translated into the art of living, it makes all the difference!.
Your journey with the swimming is such a wonderful tale about overcoming and being far more in our bodies, Lily, while we have them. You can hear me yell BRAVO from here!
I've never been able to really enjoy my accomplishments. I've run over one hundred marathons including qualifying and running Boston in my 40s, plus I've run about a dozen ultra marathons. Then I bought a bakery, and I had no time to run. How I missed it. After selling the bakery I injured my knee and running was out of the question, I could only walk,and not so well. Then a person dear to me died and my first experience of grief swamped me for a year. Then menopause. My body changed, and I didn't like the changes, but I felt frozen by too many demands on my time, and of course the tyranny of my fittest, most flexible fleetest self, in the not-too-distant past. Then (now) I experienced a terrible betrayal, and I find myself needing to move, which has always been my way of addressing mental anguish. I started lifting weights again, and doing yoga. I wasn't trying to lose weight so much as gain that old feeling of strength and fortitude. To my surprise, my muscles responded in gladness, my body quickly transforming, letting me know I am not as old as I think, just as old as I feel. And every day, I feel better and better, like I am cracking a carapace. I haven't fully emerged but I can see snatches of blue sky and breathe the fresh air.
I'm still mad at that guy who castigated you for his own inferiority complex. It's hard on a man's ego to see a woman with better guns (arms) than him, I guess.
Just loved this essay and it came along for me at exactly the right time.
I work out with ten pound weights, do stretches, planks, and leg lifts. It doesn't sound like much but it keeps me in decent shape. for someone my age (nearly 82). I also walk about eight miles/day.
It's not what I did ten years ago but I'm not the person I was ten years ago. and I'm able to do what I want. And . . . unlike many of the men in my lunch groups, I don't have any artificial parts yet.
I don't use weights. Don't know why, but not sure it matters. I push myself in other ways, evolve, and do it with a similar resolve and joie de vivre that you describe. I mentioned to you another time that I used to be a long distance cyclist with 7 century rides under my belt; now, with balance issues, I ride an adult tricycle instead and while I won't be able to complete another century ride, I still have fun. We choose our joy. We choose the people who lift us up, who we lift up. And the older we get (at least, the older I get) we learn to shed toxic people. You and I are too old to hang on to toxic people. We have earned our gray hairs, our wrinkles, our scars, our recently healed wounds that can't be seen but in healing, make us stronger. I recently started birding. It's pure beauty. I ignore the people who think it's stupid - yes, people think it's stupid. I adopted a new cat on Saturday, a beautiful tuxedo who brings me great joy and I bring her safety. I am a fully realized person, and I love your posts because you are a fully realized person. And at some point, I will be able to pay the subscription cost again.
I love this! So many great points. And I guess it works two ways. If we feel we haven’t achieved enough of what we dreamed of we can’t let define us either! What’s important it is what we want to build next. Getting older is such a privilege. It’s a beautiful thing if we don’t lock ourselves in our youth mausoleums forever!
I had a realization a couple of weeks ago. I kept thinking I was going to get back to a stronger yoga practice and last week I realized doing a fantastic hot yoga class twice a week exactly perfect for me at 67.
Leisure walks with my dog to enjoy the ocean. There isn’t anything left in me that can push me to obtain the young athletic body I had before I broke my leg in three places.
I use 3lb and 5lb weights at home. And with my PT exercises I am maintaining a full range of motion and the ability to put my carry on bag in the overhead without help. I also practice getting up off the floor without using my arms. That's good enough for me!
About the time I'm feeling low and weak and like my time in the gym isn't doing anything but loosing me money, my trainer will say something very simple but also totally uplifting. This morning he pointed out he was pleased that I just kept showing up for our sessions no matter what else was going on. Then he was surprised that I was using heavier free weights for my routine. Why, yes. Yes I am! Thank you. I needed that.
Lately I've been downhearted, my thyroid is acting up and it's affecting my energy. I'll cut myself some slack, I'll soon be 80 and I think I'm doing pretty good. Giving myself some credit today.
Thanks for your motivational essay and your mention, Julia! I've found myself loving the challenge of conquering my phobia/fear--internal summits rather than external ones. One of those summits is the water, and I'm proud of myself for having the courage to learn swimming from scratch in my 5th decade of life. Swimming has become a new passion and a gift that keeps on giving. And as you said, it's the habit that moves us forward, not the goal. I just keep attending my weekly classes and do self practice once a week. I've been making progress. Never would I have dreamed that I could swim laps without fear in this life time! Besides conquering the fear of water, I've also realized how pursuing this new hobby/sports has taught me to stay in the body instead of in the head. Translated into the art of living, it makes all the difference!.
Yes, Julia, thank you for mentioning Lily so I could find her. It was good timing for me.
She's wonderful.
Your journey with the swimming is such a wonderful tale about overcoming and being far more in our bodies, Lily, while we have them. You can hear me yell BRAVO from here!
I've never been able to really enjoy my accomplishments. I've run over one hundred marathons including qualifying and running Boston in my 40s, plus I've run about a dozen ultra marathons. Then I bought a bakery, and I had no time to run. How I missed it. After selling the bakery I injured my knee and running was out of the question, I could only walk,and not so well. Then a person dear to me died and my first experience of grief swamped me for a year. Then menopause. My body changed, and I didn't like the changes, but I felt frozen by too many demands on my time, and of course the tyranny of my fittest, most flexible fleetest self, in the not-too-distant past. Then (now) I experienced a terrible betrayal, and I find myself needing to move, which has always been my way of addressing mental anguish. I started lifting weights again, and doing yoga. I wasn't trying to lose weight so much as gain that old feeling of strength and fortitude. To my surprise, my muscles responded in gladness, my body quickly transforming, letting me know I am not as old as I think, just as old as I feel. And every day, I feel better and better, like I am cracking a carapace. I haven't fully emerged but I can see snatches of blue sky and breathe the fresh air.
I'm still mad at that guy who castigated you for his own inferiority complex. It's hard on a man's ego to see a woman with better guns (arms) than him, I guess.
Just loved this essay and it came along for me at exactly the right time.
May I quote you? This is just gorgeous.
of course! xo
We do the best we can with what we have and who we are in this present moment. Thank you for all of your uplifting and encouraging posts. 🙏💜
I work out with ten pound weights, do stretches, planks, and leg lifts. It doesn't sound like much but it keeps me in decent shape. for someone my age (nearly 82). I also walk about eight miles/day.
It's not what I did ten years ago but I'm not the person I was ten years ago. and I'm able to do what I want. And . . . unlike many of the men in my lunch groups, I don't have any artificial parts yet.
A good motto: Take care of yourself!!
I don't use weights. Don't know why, but not sure it matters. I push myself in other ways, evolve, and do it with a similar resolve and joie de vivre that you describe. I mentioned to you another time that I used to be a long distance cyclist with 7 century rides under my belt; now, with balance issues, I ride an adult tricycle instead and while I won't be able to complete another century ride, I still have fun. We choose our joy. We choose the people who lift us up, who we lift up. And the older we get (at least, the older I get) we learn to shed toxic people. You and I are too old to hang on to toxic people. We have earned our gray hairs, our wrinkles, our scars, our recently healed wounds that can't be seen but in healing, make us stronger. I recently started birding. It's pure beauty. I ignore the people who think it's stupid - yes, people think it's stupid. I adopted a new cat on Saturday, a beautiful tuxedo who brings me great joy and I bring her safety. I am a fully realized person, and I love your posts because you are a fully realized person. And at some point, I will be able to pay the subscription cost again.
I'd love to quote this, Judith. Thanks.
Of course, please do.
I love this! So many great points. And I guess it works two ways. If we feel we haven’t achieved enough of what we dreamed of we can’t let define us either! What’s important it is what we want to build next. Getting older is such a privilege. It’s a beautiful thing if we don’t lock ourselves in our youth mausoleums forever!
Getting older is such a privilege and you are so right!
Beautifully written
I had a realization a couple of weeks ago. I kept thinking I was going to get back to a stronger yoga practice and last week I realized doing a fantastic hot yoga class twice a week exactly perfect for me at 67.
Leisure walks with my dog to enjoy the ocean. There isn’t anything left in me that can push me to obtain the young athletic body I had before I broke my leg in three places.
I’m actually good with that
I loved reading this
Thank you, Julia
I'd love to quote you on this, thank you.
I corrected the typos
Thank you dear
I use 3lb and 5lb weights at home. And with my PT exercises I am maintaining a full range of motion and the ability to put my carry on bag in the overhead without help. I also practice getting up off the floor without using my arms. That's good enough for me!
Exactly. Thank you.
About the time I'm feeling low and weak and like my time in the gym isn't doing anything but loosing me money, my trainer will say something very simple but also totally uplifting. This morning he pointed out he was pleased that I just kept showing up for our sessions no matter what else was going on. Then he was surprised that I was using heavier free weights for my routine. Why, yes. Yes I am! Thank you. I needed that.
That's a good coach. The really good ones notice when we need a lift and do the hard lifting, which is of our spirits.
Lately I've been downhearted, my thyroid is acting up and it's affecting my energy. I'll cut myself some slack, I'll soon be 80 and I think I'm doing pretty good. Giving myself some credit today.
Honestly, Noel, nobody else knows what we go through to be able to show up!
truly needed this kick in the pants today. THANK YOU.
What inspiration! Let’s do it!⭐️👍💕
Hell yeah!