|
|
Post by 2old on Aug 8, 2019 20:01:08 GMT -5
Can't remember if I posted about this upon our return from Minnesota a couple weeks ago. There is such a lesson to be learned. So many of us reach an age where everything hurts. So many days, it would be easier to just stay in bed... or the recliner... because the back or the knee or the shoulder or something hurts. Aleve does wonders. When it doesn't, will I still have the motivation to get up... get moving... and get out?
When visiting in Minnesota a couple weeks ago, the wife's cousin told us of his neighbor. Suffered a debilitating stroke 7 or 8 years ago. Total right side paralyzed. Can still walk/hobble with a brace on the right leg. Right arm and hand are totally useless. Plays golf every week in their league. Plays with only the left hand and plays quite well. Carries about an 18 handicap. Every winter, the wife's cousin pulls his neighbor's ice house out on the lake. Neighbor heads to the ice house about 11 a.m. and fishes until around 8 p.m. Has landed numerous large walleye and Northern pike. Holds the hook in his mouth while sliding bait on it with his one hand. Drops the line through the ice hole into the water. When the fish is hooked, he pulls the line up to his mouth and bites down on the line. Reaches down and pulls the line up some more, putting the next length in his teeth. Has caught many fish with just the left hand and his teeth. He just won't allow anyone to tell him he can't.
I've known folks who go both ways. When my Mother passed, my Dad just sat down. Took him about 3 years to die. From the bed to the recliner to the microwave to the recliner to the bed. Always complained he had something hurting so he couldn't walk to the neighbors... or to the senior center... or to anywhere he would get some exercise and interaction. Others have worked through physical or mental health issues and keep active day after day after day.
My wife and I have been blessed with good health. So many have not been as lucky as we have. That doesn't mean that in our 70's we don't have some aches and pains. Hopefully, we can keep our minds positive and keep moving. If we do begin to doubt our ability to keep moving, we really need to remind ourselves of the gentleman in Minnesota who has every excuse to just sit down... and won't allow it to happen.
|
|
|
|
Post by tnthomas on Aug 8, 2019 21:23:59 GMT -5
Great advice, so very true!
Body movement is a gift that you never want to lose.
|
|
|
|
Post by louie on Aug 9, 2019 7:19:12 GMT -5
I work out with a 75 yr old woman and an 82 yr old man who have had hip and knee replacements among other things. Another man has had a Traumatic Brain Injury and has balance issues, yet we work out together also.
My MIL had surgeries to 'fix' every ache and pain she ever had and spent 30+ yrs convincing doctors that she needed one kind of pain pill or another. She sat and read a book and quit any other activities. Now she can do nothing but sit...in a nursing home as her systems are failing her as is her mind.
I'm not going to connect her lack of movement to all of her ailments, but I do see others that are still moving and doing things despite their age and health issues.
My husband has dramatically increased his lung capacity after a devastating bi-lung emobli in December. This is due to a Physical therapy routine he does 3 times per week. When it ends I am afraid he'll go back to sitting all day which won't help him at all!
The human body ... should move as well as it can.
|
|
|
|
Post by good4nothin on Aug 9, 2019 8:46:15 GMT -5
That is so true. Moving is what keeps us alive.
|
|
|
|
Post by joymarty on Aug 9, 2019 13:59:21 GMT -5
I'm hitting the bed for the 2nd round of stretches this morning. I have no TV to sit around and stare at....
|
|
|
|
Post by good4nothin on Aug 9, 2019 14:43:17 GMT -5
I'm hitting the bed for the 2nd round of stretches this morning. I have no TV to sit around and stare at.... Me neither, no TV. But plenty to read on the computer. There us always enough time for stretching. |
|
|
|
Post by louie on Aug 12, 2019 6:09:45 GMT -5
I'm hitting the bed for the 2nd round of stretches this morning. I have no TV to sit around and stare at.... We had no TV for nearly 15 years but ever since hubby's cancer, then stroke...and his lack of ability to do much, we went with Amazon Prime and my son pays for Netflix. It helps keep his mind occupied but I can't stand watching endless hours of what my father called the 'Boob Tube'. I am lucky that I can always find something to occupy my time in warm or cold weather! |
|
|
|
Post by highlandannie on Aug 12, 2019 6:55:15 GMT -5
I always feel better when I'm fit and workout and just stay active. I feel old when I don't.
Sound morbid but if my husband dies before me I'll have to force myself to move somewhere that isn't so quiet and somewhat isolated. (although he is 70 and healthy and as fit as most 40 year olds...). I would need to move to a town, maybe sheltered housing if I'm 80+.
|
|
|
|
Post by louie on Aug 12, 2019 16:22:16 GMT -5
I always feel better when I'm fit and workout and just stay active. I feel old when I don't. Sound morbid but if my husband dies before me I'll have to force myself to move somewhere that isn't so quiet and somewhat isolated. (although he is 70 and healthy and as fit as most 40 year olds...). I would need to move to a town, maybe sheltered housing if I'm 80+. That will probably be me also. I will sell the farm and more than likely move somewhere where I can have public transportation, don't have to plow for hours to get out, and have to maintain 25 acres of fence and a large yard. I've already looked at where I'd move to. I'll probably wait a year or so, but I won't stay isolated in the back woods! |
|
|
|
Post by tnthomas on Aug 12, 2019 17:41:59 GMT -5
I always feel better when I'm fit and workout and just stay active. I feel old when I don't. Sound morbid but if my husband dies before me I'll have to force myself to move somewhere that isn't so quiet and somewhat isolated. (although he is 70 and healthy and as fit as most 40 year olds...). I would need to move to a town, maybe sheltered housing if I'm 80+. That will probably be me also. I will sell the farm and more than likely move somewhere where I can have public transportation, don't have to plow for hours to get out, and have to maintain 25 acres of fence and a large yard. I've already looked at where I'd move to. I'll probably wait a year or so, but I won't stay isolated in the back woods! These are things I know will be on the "agenda" in a few years- I'm 67 right now.
Note: If my wife precedes me, I'll stay here on our 2 acre rural property until I'm no longer able to drive, would probably move to L.A. to be near my son.
|
|
|
|
Post by highlandannie on Aug 13, 2019 6:18:40 GMT -5
I always feel better when I'm fit and workout and just stay active. I feel old when I don't. Sound morbid but if my husband dies before me I'll have to force myself to move somewhere that isn't so quiet and somewhat isolated. (although he is 70 and healthy and as fit as most 40 year olds...). I would need to move to a town, maybe sheltered housing if I'm 80+. That will probably be me also. I will sell the farm and more than likely move somewhere where I can have public transportation, don't have to plow for hours to get out, and have to maintain 25 acres of fence and a large yard. I've already looked at where I'd move to. I'll probably wait a year or so, but I won't stay isolated in the back woods! I'm not really isolated. I'm on a coastal road 10 miles from a smallish town and I do have neighbours. But we don't really see each other unless maybe going for a walk and they are walking dogs, etc. If I stayed in this house I'd need to pay a gardener and a handyman as my husband does everything. I would likely turn into a hermit which would not be good for me. A few people - relatives - have assumed that if I was widowed (or divorced - NO chance!) that I would move back to the US. It's really a ridiculous assumption because how would moving away from the country I love be helpful to me?? Hopefully I'll be very old if widowed and there is a nice sheltered housing community that faces the loch and is not far from town. I could walk or take a short bus ride to do shopping. |
|
|
|
Post by highlandannie on Aug 13, 2019 6:26:55 GMT -5
That will probably be me also. I will sell the farm and more than likely move somewhere where I can have public transportation, don't have to plow for hours to get out, and have to maintain 25 acres of fence and a large yard. I've already looked at where I'd move to. I'll probably wait a year or so, but I won't stay isolated in the back woods! These are things I know will be on the "agenda" in a few years- I'm 67 right now.
Note: If my wife precedes me, I'll stay here on our 2 acre rural property until I'm no longer able to drive, would probably move to L.A. to be near my son.
I'm also 67 and very healthy - only minor issues. But I know that could change at any time as so many people have some kind of cancer. I'm not worrying about it as that wont help, but I know my good fortune - and my husband's - is not guaranteed. So we enjoy ourselves now. |
|
|
|
Post by good4nothin on Aug 13, 2019 8:03:53 GMT -5
These are things I know will be on the "agenda" in a few years- I'm 67 right now.
Note: If my wife precedes me, I'll stay here on our 2 acre rural property until I'm no longer able to drive, would probably move to L.A. to be near my son.
I'm also 67 and very healthy - only minor issues. But I know that could change at any time as so many people have some kind of cancer. I'm not worrying about it as that wont help, but I know my good fortune - and my husband's - is not guaranteed. So we enjoy ourselves now. There are so many carcinogens now that we can't possibly avoid. We can just try to avoid the obvious ones. It is NOT normal for so many to get cancer! It is NOT the natural result of age! I don't want to drive myself crazy by thinking about all the toxins and trying to avoid them. But it has become a sad and dangerous world. Not that it wasn't always, for one reason or another. But now it's TOXIC. |
|
|
|
Post by highlandannie on Aug 13, 2019 8:55:39 GMT -5
I'm also 67 and very healthy - only minor issues. But I know that could change at any time as so many people have some kind of cancer. I'm not worrying about it as that wont help, but I know my good fortune - and my husband's - is not guaranteed. So we enjoy ourselves now. There are so many carcinogens now that we can't possibly avoid. We can just try to avoid the obvious ones. It is NOT normal for so many to get cancer! It is NOT the natural result of age! I don't want to drive myself crazy by thinking about all the toxins and trying to avoid them. But it has become a sad and dangerous world. Not that it wasn't always, for one reason or another. But now it's TOXIC. True. Also diet can cause cancer - not enough fibre, eating too much meat, etc etc. We are always hearing here in the UK that 1 out of 3 or 4 of us will get cancer. I'm at least living where there is clean air and water. And I'm not going to kill myself with worry about all the toxins. I'm still going to enjoy life and sometimes eat unhealthy food and drink alcohol. |
|
|
|
Post by good4nothin on Aug 13, 2019 10:35:37 GMT -5
There are so many carcinogens now that we can't possibly avoid. We can just try to avoid the obvious ones. It is NOT normal for so many to get cancer! It is NOT the natural result of age! I don't want to drive myself crazy by thinking about all the toxins and trying to avoid them. But it has become a sad and dangerous world. Not that it wasn't always, for one reason or another. But now it's TOXIC. True. Also diet can cause cancer - not enough fibre, eating too much meat, etc etc. We are always hearing here in the UK that 1 out of 3 or 4 of us will get cancer. I'm at least living where there is clean air and water. And I'm not going to kill myself with worry about all the toxins. I'm still going to enjoy life and sometimes eat unhealthy food and drink alcohol. Me too. I could kill myself with worrying, but I'd rather just hope for the best, or the not too bad. I try not to live the typical American lifestyle, which is deadly. But I don't want to be one of those organic fanatics either. Some things are easy to do, and some things are easy to avoid. Make sure to do some walking, or something, every day. Don't use toxic beauty products. I know women who are obsessive about avoiding pesticides and filtering all their water, but they dye their hair. And don't use sun screen! |
|
