Let's Not Split the Difference - Aging and Fitness Belong Together

A good friend, Sue Orris, is a hiking fanatic along with many of our mutual friends. Here she is in May 2018 trekking up a steep trail, with her knee braced, above our camp on Oregon's John Day River. To Sue, fitness is a lifestyle that a pesky knee is not going to wreck. She's committed to staying strong long. Me too. 

Yesterday was my 76th birthday. By now I'm accustomed to elder status. Hmmm. Not sure about status because regardless of my advanced age, I do not consider myself an "elder" in the sense of being a font of wisdom, doling out life lessons to seekers of such. 

I have, however, hammered out numerous posts about aging through the years, mostly kicking and screaming all the way to decrepitude.

2020, however, during quiet and contemplative moments hiding from Covid at home, inspired a different take. I have come around to accepting aging on my own terms, which is good because if I follow my family's longevity trajectory, I will be getting a lot older. I want to feel perky enough to dance along the way.

If I make it to my late 90s, as did my mother and her mother, I may look back on age 76 as my juicy youth when I began, in earnest, to prepare for the next two decades, Ruth Bader Ginsburg style. 

Ginsburg, who died of cancer at age 87, had a personal trainer who put her through challenging physical training twice weekly. I'll stick with intermediate yoga, strength-training, and-or charging up the neighborhood hills for 30 minutes most days. Gardening counts.

We'll see how it goes. I'll post a splits photo every year, as long as I can still do them. By the way, I practice the splits and a few push-ups most nights before bed. Five minutes max. Helps me sleep, I think.

I'm not making momentous life changes, but doubling down on commitment to stick with my current plan and, at the same time, rid myself of the foregone conclusion that age-related weakness is inevitable. Robust and rowdy until the end! Or as long as possible. 

December 15, 2020, age 76.

EARLIER POSTS ABOUT AGING

Do I Want to Die at 75? 

Not last year when I turned that age. Not this year, either.

Harold and Maude Revisited

One of my favorite posts about a quirky film starring a young man who kept pretending to do himself in and an older woman who had her end all figured out. 

Ditch the Hair Dye - plus an article about Working to Disarm Women's Anti-aging Demons 
I was into the Clairol bottle half of my adult life until PK persuaded me to stop. I'm glad I did. 

Camping with Gray-haired girlfriends - fun times outdoors  and moments of truth

Pauline - Is 90 the New 70?   In her early 90s when I met her, the first thing she wanted to tell me was how much men like sex. This is one of my favorite posts ever. 

Yoga - a Defense Against Aging - Yes, it is. Check it out. A post about a yoga class I've frequented for about 20 years. Lots of older people doing the splits and more!

Attitude and Aging - Lighten Up!  It matters how you think about getting older.

Sister's Aging Advice All Too True  I've changed my mind about what I wrote in this post a couple years ago. Rather than accepting my sister's aging angst and predictions, I'm attempting to persuade her to be more positive and proactive. 

Travel Tips for Geezers  Just go and don't worry about it.