Happy Spring!
A couple days ago was the Spring Equinox. While there was a wee bit of snow on the ground and on the car, the light of day and the dark of night were equal. Today, we continue the increase of lightness and I am planning for one of the biggest challenges that I’ll have ever done. And perhaps one of the most important. It’s my quality of life in my "old age" that’s at stake after all!
What is "old"?
I’m 57 but I don’t feel anything like what I used to think that number meant. I don’t feel any less “kid-like” than I did in my 20’s and 30’s, etc. In fact, I still joke that I take “Little Deanna” everywhere with me! (and I do!)
That number, 57, used to mean old to me. I think of my grandparents on my Mom’s side (I didn’t know my Dad’s parents). But the memory of them is from when I was in my teens and younger. Interestingly, the memory is a very much a visual, a picture of them in my mind. On the outside, they did look old to me. But how did they feel on the inside?
I didn’t know Gramma well so I'm not sure how she felt. But my Grampa, I know for sure, was a kid at heart even as he found himself in an aging body, when I knew him best in my mid to late teens. And Mom told me that when she was little, Grampa would go out and play ball with all the kids in the neighbourhood. He was fun!
Grampa was also a musician. He played piano, harmonica and I don’t know what else, and all by ear! Unfortunately, I never heard him play. Nor did I later as a musician myself, get to play with him, though, he could at least hear my trumpet even as his hearing diminished! You see, he had a massive stroke when I was 4. In one quiet, life-changing moment when he was 62 or 63, he lost most of the use of his right side and his speaking voice.
At least I didn’t lose my Grampa but the relationship we might have had in playful times and especially for me, playing music together, was lost.
The glorious thing about my Grampa, though, was that through all of it he kept his humour. Sure, he had his moments of anguish and anger for what he’d lost (including Gramma who left him!). But growing up with him living with my family for many years, I saw that he could always find it in himself to smile again or have a laugh. He remained playful and young at heart. That’s what I remember most.
Living to Age 115 - Doable?
This morning when I picked up my pen to start this first blog post I wasn’t sure what I’d write except to say I’m 57 and I want to live until I’m 115. This is something I’ve been saying this since I was a teenager. I always add that I still want to be playing my trumpet until I’m at least 113. And through it all I want to be healthy.
You see through my whole life I’ve observed people and seen how so many develop ailments of all kinds and severity. Some become stooped over and/or shuffle. Others complain of aches and pains. Many lose their mobility or worse. Or they develop what I’ve learned over the years, are preventable illnesses. One example is my Grampa. He didn’t necessarily have to have a stroke.
From a PBS interview, Walter Willett of Harvard School of Public Health:
“...our studies have shown that we could prevent about 82 percent of heart attacks, about 70 percent of strokes, over 90 percent of type 2 diabetes, and over 70 percent of colon cancer, with the right dietary choices as part of a healthy lifestyle.” 1
BUT what you hear more than anything is “that’s just a part of getting old.”
I don’t want that for myself. And, maybe, just maybe, all I’ve listed above and more are preventable?
This I want to explore in my life and hopefully I can experience a healthy "old age".
I’ve seen examples of really healthy older adults - seniors by most people's accounts - doing amazing things like running marathons and ultra-marathons and doing many more amazing things. They could run circles around me AND they inspire me!
I think losing the relationship with my Grampa that I could have had to his stroke along with the resulting fear I’ve had ever since of either
having a stroke myself or someone who I love having one, is part of my motivation for a big change/challenge I’m planning for the very near future (6 weeks and counting). BUT the biggest driving factor is my desire to just finally be all that it means to be healthy and to age that way:
fit, strong, flexible, capable and full of physical endurance AND well inside (I’m not fully).
I have taken steps before to improve my health. I did the walk-run program in 2016, for example, and think it’s great though I only had partial success. I did weight training a couple years ago and again some success. But with each of those and other go’s at it, I have gotten (let myself be?) derailed. At least I did what I did or I figure I’d be worse off now. But I remain just this side of injured (and not always on this side) and have for years and years. And now I am also beginning to feel the slide into “old age” too. It’s hinting ever so slightly in what I am beginning to feel in my unhealthy body.
That this is happening is not acceptable to me. Not when the information is out there for healthy living from experts like Walter Willett above and many more I'll share in later posts. Sure, there’s a LOT of information out there and much of it conflicts, so that can be tricky. Oh well. At least it’s there.
“In essence, you make your choices, and then your choices make you.”
Darren Hardy, The Compound Effect
Ultimately, for me and anyone, it comes down to the choices I will make going forward which I believe will determine for the most part, my trajectory going forward, in good health or in diminishing health. And, whether I will, in fact, live to 115. But you know! Even living until I’m 90, if I keep my health, will be 30 more years of living! And that I want! Woo-hoo!.....It’s like living the bulk of my adult life again and there are still so many things I want to do and experience! Wow!
So, time's a ticking!
What am I planning to do about not just stopping the decline into “old age” and the usual resulting diminished health but, instead, becoming healthier than I truly have ever been in my entire life?
One part of the plan is a biggie and it’s coming up fast! I will be doing an “elimination diet” to correct the issues in my gut that are affecting my overall health (including 2 autoimmune diseases). I will begin this in early May.
[Note: Ugh! One challenge I have to overcome with this is that I’d generally rather be anywhere than in the kitchen! ….sigh… that’s gotta change.....]
The other part of the plan is physical activity to get the level of fitness I so covet. I have started again but I just realized that the time I currently give to it is being squeezed into my schedule instead of being a higher priority. I’m motivated to be stronger and more able because it will help in so many ways, including with my
trumpet playing [and did someone say ultra-marathons? ....LOL…..I can’t even run around the block!] ....So I’m going to have to knuckle down and invest the necessary time to do the physical activities that will improve my fitness.
And while I never like negative predictions, I do suspect the road ahead will be a bumpy path of many challenges. But the payoff will be worth it!
Whoa!
This really got serious and it's true, I am serious about it! BUT let’s bring in some levity because one of my highest values is fun! And, all of what I just wrote is so I can have fun living a fantastic life feeling capable, strong and happy! And, maybe help someone else do that, too, by sharing this!
“Let the games begin! ....and bring on the BEST quality of life possible!"
So that's me! How about you?
Please let me know in the comments below.
“The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone in your heart
- this you will build your life by, and this you will become.”
James Allen, As a Man Thinketh
1. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/diet/interviews/willett.html
Photo credits:
Daffodils by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Grampa by H. Ford
Deanna by D. Ford
Runners by Tong Su on Unsplash
Hourglass: AI creation by Deanna with Leonardo AI
Bumpy Path by Slawek K on Unsplash
4 replies to "In Pursuit of a Different Path into “Old Age”"
At 67…almost 68 I still feel 30 years younger. Who’s that aging chick in the mirror? confronts me frequently I must admit. And knowing that my oldest daughter is closer to 50 than 45 makes me shudder! Your blog made me think of my mom. At 90 does she still feel much younger? If not then when did she lose that younger feeling? I will pose those questions when I see her at Easter.
FYI- I avoid sugars, carbs, and have really cut back on booze. Seldom do I do fast food. And I do my best to stay active. I don’t want to live until 115 but 100 would be cool!
Wishing you success in your journey into old age and also wishing you Happy 115th Birthday now! I won’t be here then!!
Hi Debbie, Thanks for commenting and sharing! That’s cool that your Mom is still alive at 90 and you can chat with her about this! I remember my Mom saying to me when she was alive that she still felt young. And she was a going concern into her 70s! I’m curious what your Mom will say when you chat with her at Easter.
The Elimination Diet will have me avoiding sugars, carbs and many more things. That’s great that you’re already doing it, too, with some things. Thanks for the early birthday wishes! And I agree, 100 would be way cool!
I am considering an attempt at journaling. Perhaps I can leave some insight for the grandkids who don’t really know me into who I was, what I became and how I developed what the Korean Tae Kwon Do fighters call Indomitable Will. The Okinawans like to say “Seven times I fall down. Eight times I get up!” .
There are times in my life where it looks like I may have lost. Those were just setbacks. I never willingly allowed myself to be defeated.
In your journey, I urge you to simply practice moderation in all things. Find a way to self forgiveness and forgiveness of others. It is still, however, worth remembering the Boxer’s Rule. “Don’t get mad. Get even!” .
Hi Brian, Thanks for sharing your ideas here! Good luck with your journalling! It’s a really helpful practice. If it feels odd at first, don’t worry. It gets easier and then the thoughts flow. And, sharing about your life and the martial arts philosophies and wisdom you have is great! I wish I knew my Grampa’s thoughts and ideas. Your grandkids would be lucky to learn more about you. (Note, journalling can be helpful for you, too.)
For the Health journey, I’ll be exploring strategies and ideas for how to do it and succeed without going crazy! LOL…. Forgiveness and compassion always!