I think it’s time I gave myself a pep talk. You can listen in if you want.
So, Laurie, it is the New Year and you’ve just had a birthday. You are now 72 years old. It’s not the time for New Year’s resolutions or even for long term planning. Just because you have a 92-year-old friend who still dances the Charleston at African fundraisers and she is still going strong, doesn’t mean you will be in 20 years unless you do something about it. She also walks every day!
Take your friend Dave, for instance: Dave’s physio said to him at his first meeting, I can’t fix you. Think of yourself as a used car. No matter how much work I’ll do on you, you will never be a new car. But with proper care and maintenance you can keep on running smoothly. Even with a complete rebuild, (new hips, new knees) you will never be a new car!
So, Laurie, there is no more time to put things off. Waiting for tomorrow isn’t an option anymore. Get those things done you want to get done. It doesn’t really matter how you do it, you can take it on in marathon style, or do something toward your goals every day for 15 minutes. Just stop saying “tomorrow.”
And that isn’t just for writing your book or tidying up the mess of papers that should be filed, it means looking after your health too.
How many steps are you getting a day? I know you reset your goal coming out of the lockdown because you had been pretty much sedentary. But have you thought of increasing the steps a little more each week until you get up to that healthy number again? You can exercise inside or outside — why not try a balance of both?
Sure, you are old (ok, pardon me, older), but do you really think you can eat all that junk food and still be healthy? Stop with the “well, I deserve it” attitude.
Put some balance in your life. One of the ways to keep healthy and alert is to put more variety into your days. Have activities that are solitary as well as ones with other people. In other words, don’t spend all day sitting in your easy chair reading a book. Get some fresh air, chat with your friends, join something active, go for a walk with Dorothy and take nature photos. Take the stairs!
I know you know that New Year’s resolutions don’t work for you (or most people). But how about legacy planning? Yes, I did just make that up, but I know you have some goals that you want to complete in this lifetime and, well, there is no time like the present.
What’s that you say? You have completed your goals? I don’t believe you. |
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Laurie Mueller, M.Ed is retired and living in Victoria with her husband, Helmuth. She recently published The Ultimate Guide on What to Do When Someone You Love Dies, available on Amazon. More about Laurie can be found at www.lauriemconsulting.com or on Facebook.