Physical Limitations

The hardest thing in which to find "the gift" will be in the increasing physical limitations that come with age.  Remember that 80-year-old Swede we were all told about 40 years ago (or was he merely 60?)  Then, he was something to aspire to as I aged.  Now, he taunts me.

I, like many people my age, have osteoarthritis.  Mine is in my spine, my knees and my hips.  I try not to let it "slow me down."  I walk!  I walk in long races; I walk with a walking group; I hike.  And, occasionally, like this month (suffering from a baker's cyst), I have to stop to heal because to continue to walk would be foolish and self-destructive.

The gift in this? I have some possible ideas but none of them seem exactly right.  Perhaps it's the gift of being aware of, and grateful to, my body and to start to recognize that my body is not separate and subordinate to me.  It is me.  The abuse of youthful excesses and mid-life career demands to go without sleep weren't done to another entity, they were done to myself.  And now I have the opportunity to care for my very own self.  

Introduction

I've been challenged by two good friends to see if blogging would be a good way to hold this conversation.

I am (of course) a boomer, heading into old age.  I've been giving this journey a lot of thought.  I've read several books and numerous magazines on the subject.  I even facilitated a workshop (designed by someone else) on how to retire successfully.  But I'm unhappy with most of the advice on this topic.  It all seems to be focussed on how to stay young. 

Of course, I want to stay healthy.  But I'm quite sure that this third trimester (as I've started to call it) must have some beauty and benefits all its own.  I want to discover what those are for myself.  So this blog will be a place for me to record my journey.