Several life events have occurred over the last few months that have me waking at 2 AM and not being able to get back to sleep. They have to do with both my health and my family’s health so this morning, as I was swimming laps in the pool, I realized I was thinking like an “old” person and that would just have me acting like one too. (no comments from the peanut gallery please)
Let me share an example with you. After I was “officially diagnosed” with peripheral vascular disease I began worrying that I shouldn’t fly to Hawaii or to Tahiti because the flights were too long, and they might trigger blood clots. We have already booked and paid for a South Pacific Cruise, so I worried about dealing with doctors and hospitals while I was there.
This trip has been a dream of ours and we are celebrating both our 50th anniversary and my 70th birthday so what better time than right now?
Now here are the facts: I have known I have circulation problems in my legs for years and years. The ability to walk freely was on my list of things that weight loss surgery would help me resolve.
I have hiked the waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge, LA, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties, hiked in Kauai, walked and hiked at 10, 000+ foot elevations in Colorado and New Mexico, flown on planes several times a year. I was at risk all those times, so what difference does an official diagnosis make? NONE - in reality. Do I want to continue to live my life and enjoy it, or do I want to get out the rocking chair and sit in it and wait to die? I know my answer and with these words I am letting out a long, cleansing breath and letting go of that fear of the risk. My solution is to wear the support hose the doc prescribed no matter how uncomfortable and walk the aisles of the plane for the 8-hour flight.
These solutions to what seemed to be unsurmountable problems for me flashed into my head as I was swimming laps this morning. Yes, I exercise at minimum 5 days a week for 30 - 105 minutes each day. Why do I do that? To stay as healthy, flexible and happy as possible to live this 70th year like a 50-year-old.
Let’s burn the rocking chair in the fireplace as we sit with our hot tea after our bike ride at the beach!!
The moral of the story is - LIVE every day to its fullest whether you are 20, 40, 60, yes, or even 70 years young.