The importance of vitality as I age
It’s eight weeks until my birthday. I’m 66 and 44 weeks today. Has time passed fast? I’m not sure. I’ve certainly had my adventures with my time in Kenya living with the Maasai, having my book – Rethinking Retirement for Positive Ageing published in November, winning a National Career Award with the Career Development Institute for my career research. I’ve also settled back into my own home having tried and decided against living with my partner and changed cars from a small Fiat 500 to a Citroen Berlingo. And more … two media days; a key note speaker at a conference, helping with a full media campaign, hosting a Royal Forestry Society meeting at my wood …
I have also fallen over a few times. I’ve tripped I’ve not had a fall!
A couple of times it was because of rushing, partly it was because I was wearing slip on shoes and another time, I wasn’t wearing my glasses because the coating was faulty and an old-old lady was walking towards me. I stepped out of the way and hadn’t realised the pavement was so uneven because I didn’t look where I was going.
Each time I fell down and each time I set my activity plans back a few weeks because each time I fell down on my left knee and it hurt.
Over the past 3 weeks I’ve spent four days on retreat near St Davids, South Wales, then a weekend in Devon to listen to a talk with Stephen Jenkinson and Martin Shaw, up to Derby for the award ceremony and then Cheshire to see family. Driving over 1600 miles. I don’t normally drive anything like that.
I can see 67 ahead, 68 next year – closing in on 70. Not wishing the years away, but being conscious of ageing.
What I’ve decided since going on the retreat and doing quite a bit of walking up some hills and being given healthy food is to focus on vitality.
Since I came back, I’ve started doing colourful salads with a variety of ingredients, and actually use a decent salad dressing rather than just bland lettuce, cucumber and tomato. I’m now in a rhythm of swimming twice a week and doing weights twice a week. I’m not back to seeing a Personal Trainer, but have created my own 45-minute routine and I reckon that’s enough. I’m not looking to make major changes to my body, just to increase strength, especially in my legs.
I’m doing some marching to get my hips moving and I’m now walking up stairs. I live on the third floor and I tended to always use the lift because it was easier and if I did walk up the stairs, I was using the handrail to pull up. Since the retreat I’ve been walking up the stairs without holding on and it’s getting easier. Today I did three flights, not holding on; the more I do it the easier it gets.
And I think the consistency about my exercise, the salads full of colour, the aiming to not eat after 8 o’clock at night (although that seems have gone by the wayside these past few days, I need to go back to that one!) has meant that I’m feeling more alive. I am feeling more vital. I am feeling more energetic and I like it.
I spoke to my Chiropractor, on a recent visit, who said one of the reasons older people have a lot of falls is because their hips are stiff and if they start to stumble, they can’t right themselves. Everything I’m doing is really helping to keep everything moving and should mean that I remain in better health for longer. I probably should do yoga but the beginners’ class I went to was too much for me, I probably need 121 guidance.
I always used to focus on weight and do things to lose weight and then I’d eat chocolate and give up. As I make the choice on vitality, it is really working for me because I’m making lots of healthy choices. I’ve lost half a stone and that seems now stuck but that’s okay because my aim is vitality.
I have four months till my next trip. I have two months until my 67th birthday and if I focus on vitality and movement, I should move into my 68th year with continued zest and interest in life.
I hope some of this resonates with you, and here are some questions to reflect on:
Looking back over the last year, what are some of the stand out moments for you. What makes them stand out?
Have you personally recognised/celebrated these moments? How?
Have you noticed any changes in your body and activity levels? What changes are they and when did you first notice them?
Are you taking any action to increase your vitality?
And if this brought something else into your mind, I would love to hear from you.