My devotional today was interesting. In light of the fact that I am 'old' in many people's eyes...... I have the fluffy and soft skin, brown spots on my hands and arms, I don't move as quick as I used to.... and I have gray in my hair.....which is daily getting grayer and whiter..... I don't want to take it easy and become OLD in my own eyes.
Oh yes, I often say that I am old. But it is only that in years I am 'old' compared to some people. But this devotional I read this morning makes sense. It had a story in it of an older woman who was in great shape for being in her eighties. When she went for a physical, the doctor asked her how did she stay in such great shape. She told him that she ran four to five miles a day, every day. He kind of chuckled, then told her to "take it easy". She decided to do what the doctor said and quit running four to five miles a day and instead started walking just a little bit... and she quit being so active.... and she died not long after.
There was another story of a man in his 90's who was traveling alone and had a desire to visit numerous places. When he shook the hand of this pastor, he shared he was from the midwest and he was traveling about the country. The pastor noticed his hands were very rough so he asked him what he did for a living. Oh, he was a farmer, he replied. When asked what did he do yesterday, he said he had harvested 90,000 bushels of corn. In his 90's!
I've often mentioned age here and my struggles to be active, to keep from acting old. It isn't that getting old is wrong, or bad, but to allow ourselves to slow down to the point of where we are the living dead is what I struggle with the most, I think. My mother quit living in her 60s. Probably even before that, but since I didn't see her often during those years, I can't say for sure. I do not recall her being active at all, never taking walks that I am aware of. Yes, she lived to 85, nearly 86, but what is age if you aren't living? I don't want to become my mother and not live life.
Hubby is 84 and although he used to be active, over the past ten years or less, he has become less and less active and it drives me crazy. Oh he will drive somewhere. He likes to go places and do things; he meets with his men friends three times a week. But he hates to take walks. He doesn't even go to the gym anymore at all, although he often talks about going. The last time he went he was gone perhaps 15 minutes. When he came back so early I asked him why. He said because he hadn't worked out in over six months (more like many months), he didn't want to overdo it so only did a couple exercises a few times and left.
I admit I haven't touched my weights in about two weeks. I went on Jailbreak and just haven't gotten back to it. I haven't been on the treadmill for a week. I did take a short walk with hubby (and I do mean SHORT) last week.... we started out and although I was on company time, figured I could take an early break..... we barely went two 'blocks' (streets) when he said he was turning around and heading back home. I did the same since I needed to get to work.... but I felt sad because I thought we'd really get in at least 1/2 mile. I know I should just take the initiative and just do it..... I take responsibility for that.
I don't want to get old and just spend it sitting in a chair. I want to keep living life that whenever someone in the family is doing something, they want to invite us (me) over to help cause I'm active enough to help with things. I was thrilled when my daughter - for the first time ever, I think - let me come over and help her pack at her old house - and come over to help her unpack at the new house. I was active and able to do things.
I really struggle with staying active..... and because I love to crochet and/or knit (which requires sitting down), and reading (again, usually sitting down).... staying active is difficult. Working from home usually requires me sitting in front of the computer all day. When I get 'off work', it's time to figure out what's for dinner and then we go sit for the evening. It is a struggle, and I'm sure many of you have the same struggle..... but have you realized how the lack of movement in your body is causing your body to decline?
Hubby borrowed some shovels and actually plans to dig holes to plant the flowers we bought the other day. I wouldn't let him do it mid-day yesterday and told him to wait until the cool of the morning. I don't know if he will even be able to get the seven holes dug before he will give up.... and I hope the holes will be deep enough to allow the roots to grow. He hasn't done manual labor in years. But he needs to. I'm hoping this will give him motivation to get active.
**addendum.... hubby started digging with the shovel but because he couldn't find the small hand trowel.... he quit until the hardware store opens and he can go get one. Which means it will now be tomorrow before he will continue. I suggested he dig a few inches down and fill up with water to make it easier tomorrow to dig deeper. I think he vetoed that because he is in the house. Maybe by the end of the week the flowers will be planted. I'd do it myself but it would cause a fight..... sigh.
And I need to make some changes too. I need to take my breaks and head to the garage and jump on the treadmill again for fifteen minutes. I need to grab a few minutes and work on strength building with my weights again. I need to maybe quit my quiet time a half hour early and take a quick walk around a couple blocks to get my body moving. Yes, I have been lazy. Yes, I have been taking it easy... and I have no reason to do so.
I have asked God to let me live to be 100, then let me die in my sleep as a happy old woman. But if I don't do my part and stay active.... why would I want to live that long? What is living if all you do is go from bed to chair, to perhaps another chair, and then back to bed? That isn't living. That is barely surviving. I want to be active, to live life to the fullest. Yes, I get tired sometimes... but that is due to my lack of movement. I need to push through and succeed. I don't want my life to end with someone having to take care of me.
Age means zilch. Wrinkles, gray hair, and spots on your hands, less than zilch. If God chooses to leave you here on this old earth, great. If He makes it possible for you to step aside from your work and move on to new vistas with fresh challenges, that's also great. And whatever else you do, don't take it easy!
Few things will get you in a rut quicker than sittin' around watching the hummingbirds suck red juice out of a jar!
Norman Cousins said "No disease is more lethal than the boredom that follows retirement."
Get up off the chair and move!
Blessings!
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