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Aging always seemed to be a taboo topic while I was growing up in my early years. But I think today more people are openly talking about getting older and embracing it with a new vigor. I too find myself in this age category and it hasn’t been easy to navigate.
“Aging is not for the weak.” – Meryl Streep
I’ll admit that being older has its perks such as, I am wiser with a ton of experience that I’ve racked up to talk about. At work I can be an old cantankerous nurse who finds some of the new rules and regulations ridiculous and when I voice my disdain about it people just smile and move on. I gleefully enjoy the increased freedom and time that I have now allowing me to pursue exciting and crazy activities.
Although, as a person who is aging in her sixties, my body didn’t get the memo that these are supposed to be the great years of GWEN. Sheeesh. Just as life is getting exciting, the joints begin to hurt, my flexibility decreases, and losing weight becomes an impossible feat. Annually I go to my doctor appointments so that my A1C can be monitored. Faithfully I get my annual mammograms and every ten years a colonoscopy. If this is the golden years then I think I got on the wrong cruise ship.
Then, “the change” happens. I didn’t pay attention to those conversations when my grandma and mother talked about their menopausal symptoms. Shoot I was busy running, doing cartwheels, and jumping out of swings in midair. What need did I have for that information.
I do remember hearing my elders say, “Enjoy your youth!” “Oh, it must be nice to be young and get around so easily!” These comments fell on deaf ears at the time but somehow the words wormed their way into my memory bank. What’s funny, is I hear myself saying these same words to the younger generation today. I find myself marveling at the agility and bounciness of the youth. I feel a hint of jealousy as I watch the adolescents eat all this junk food that I find hard to digest and causes me to produce enough methane to fuel a rocket to the moon.
Yeah, not everything about aging is great. But this is not going to stop me from living a vibrant, exciting life. I don’t have time for this nonsense! So, I need to learn how to manage my aging body.
“Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” – Betty Friedan
One day I was in the middle of creating another piece for my blog when a thought formed. Why not add on to my website a section about the difficulties a woman experiences with an aging body. With my nursing background and many years of experiences in working with the elderly population, why not talk about issues that affect an older body and how to manage it.
With the help of some very talented folks at Lewis Media Group who know way more about technology than I do helped me revamp my site. Also, a huge shout out to my niece, Rose, who did the drawings. Thank you all for your help, this old lady really appreciates it.
So, welcome to the “I Don’t Have Time for this Nonsense.” Section.
My grandma always said, “Life is great if you don’t weaken.” As she aged, I heard this comment more often. Thinking back, I would say she was accurate in her assessment about old age.
When God created me, He knew that my body would go through many changes as I aged. So, God equipped me with curiosity and a desire to live so that I could traverse this amazing life He gave me.
With each change I encounter in my body whether physical, mental, or emotional, I research for information and learn what others have done. I refer to my amazing physician who always hands me more information giving me the autonomy to make an informed decision. Then I choose my course of action and attack the problem.
I don’t think God intend for me to live out my older years in despair, sadness, and loneliness. I could beg God until I was blue in the face to get my younger body back but instead of wallowing in “what I wish I could go back to,” how about I move forward on this new exciting adventure. If I want to be vibrant and active, then as I meet each challenge in the twist and turns of my journey, I need to fight like a true warrior and learn how to adopt.
“It’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln
The “I Don’t Have Time for this Nonsense” will have information about various health problems and what I have learned in order to manage the symptoms. Besides diminished physical health, there is the emotional and mental aspect that takes a hit with an aging body. All of these issues play a role in how I will live out my later years. I hope my experiences and knowledge will be of help to others.
God has blessed me with a wonderful zest for life and as I enjoy all of the opportunities God presents to me, I will learn how to manage my aging body and live vibrantly.
Join me on this journey as new issues present themselves and let’s dive into the why’s. Then let’s tackle the problems as we learn how to manage our aging bodies and live vibrantly. Because, we don’t have time for this nonsense!
“Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art.” – Stanislaw Jerzy Lec
Photo by StudioKV on iStock
Gwen
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