Why did I wait until today instead of Tuesday to publish this post? Two reasons. One I am at the Outer Banks of North Carolina with my wife and grandson and we are having a great time. But the main reason is that I turn 81 today (yes, I was born on April Fools Day), and I thought it might be more interesting to talk about fitness and aging on a significant birthday.
So even though I am writing from my own perspective about the things I will be doing to keep my mind and body alive and well, please read it in terms of yourself and the ideas you can apply to yourself as you move up through the years.
I have pondered (what a ponderous word) what I can DO as I begin to move through my eighties; what things I can do that will help keep me going. I read the obituaries of stars and stage types who die publicly and their ages seem to be in the same range of mine, most just a little older. Most of these folks remain active and often are still performing when they pass.
And yes, I am losing a bit of spring in my step and stand a tiny bit less straight than in my younger days, but that really does come with age, even though we do what we can to avoid it.
Please don’t take that to mean I am thinking about my own demise. I am thinking more in terms of how I can stay physically and mentally active until my own time comes; how can I make constant improvement instead of deteriorating; how I can be more active rather than less. I think that kind of mental attitude helps, rather than thinking about how I can live the rest of my years as a couch potato. How can I write more, not less. How can I continue to have the stamina to give all day workshops and one hour talks.
Stamina is a key word along with energy. Stamina means my ability to last; to keep going. Stamina is a function of primarily physical energy, the capacity for work.
And that stamina and energy results from physical movement, nutritious food, and keeping my lungs healthy and strong through exercise and deep breathing. I have been doing some of that all week, including a lot of brisk walking on the beach and using my stretch bands that go in every suitcase on every trip no matter where I go. My legs and stretch bands are portable and can go with me anywhere I go and will probably go with me to the nursing home.
Last week, I linked to an article about moving naturally and how I continue to make natural movement a major part of my exercise routine. That is probably the best thing you can do for staying strong and mobile as you get older. That includes walking a lot, crawling on the ground, practicing getting up and down so it will be easier for you when you really get old, and other similar moves.
Most of you aren’t near your eighties yet — but you will be. The expression, “Use it or lose it” never had a more valid meaning than when you get older. So if you are doing all those things now, keep at it and don’t let age slow you down. If you are not exercising, for gosh sake: START NOW! Your life in your eighties depend on it.
Thank you for your indulgence in waiting until my Thursday birthday for me to publish this. It makes me feel younger.
Thank you for reading.