The other day at Maj Jong, yes I said Maj Jong, a friend walked in to play. Another looked at me and said,” look at her feet.” I looked down and she was wearing two different shoes.
They were similar, but one was a darker shade and different texture.
I laughed out loud. Not to make fun of my friend, but from sheer relief knowing I wasn’t the only one.
Lately I’ve been thinking, well, that thinking is actually becoming a luxury. I find myself needing to focus on one thing to get it done right when I used to do at least three things at a time with little effort.
Those days are sadly gone. And I’m not referring to the times I walk into a room and forget why.
When leaving physical therapy the other day, a thought occurred to me…my body has now learned a new talent. Compensation. That’s right, even at my age I am still learning.
When I tore my rotator cuff the doctor strongly suggested I have surgery. I suggested just as strongly that I try PT first. I decided it was worth trying the least painful method before subjecting myself to an invasive procedure. So I took myself to PT determined to fix a broken and badly torn up shoulder.
My doctor was skeptical and assumed I’d be back and sign up for the procedure shortly. He was wrong. Never underestimate the cowardly.
What I noticed after beginning the work of forcing my muscles to do the work of the torn pieces of my shoulder, was that they were not exactly thrilled by the prospect.
But I wasn’t any more thrilled at the thought of having surgery so I persisted.
After a while they gave in. Oh sure the tear is still there, but my other muscles have compensated and I can use my arm.
I suppose that at a certain age it becomes all for one and one for all where our bodies and minds are concerned.
We become good at compensating for the parts that don’t work very well any longer, and we fall into patterns that will allow us to keep trudging along.
Much like an old car that needs repairs constantly to keep running.
And running is something my body wants no part of, compensation or not.
If it’s true that necessity is the mother of invention, our bodies are a real mother.
They somehow find a way to offset the parts of us that have slowed down. Or others that refuse to work at their previous at all some days.
Sometimes without even being aware it’s happening. Finding a way to continue with the activities we once took for granted can suddenly become a challenge. Yet there is no doubt we must battle to do so.
Much like hearing our whole lives that if one loses a sense, the other four become more acute.
It should be no surprise to us that our brain finds a way to continue using our bodies in the way to which we have become accustomed.
The brain is the ultimate computer, yet like all electronics it becomes obsolete as new updates are installed.
My Iphone and computer stopped communicating so one had to go.
However, unlike manmade technology the brain has unlimited new circuits and programs one can install. It is a great manager and an untapped resource.
They say we only use a small part of our brain capacity. If so, our bodies should be able to adapt and form new wiring as needed.
The experts say AI will help us to achieve this. Perhaps, but in the interim we are on our own. Many say learning new things like a language opens new pathways in the brain. Pretty much I’ve found it just adds more stuff in there to forget.
Adapting and compensating for the things that don’t work as well as they once did is on us.
I guess we can help it along by being open to new ways of thinking, moving and caring for our bodies.
I suppose there are many ways to continue at a healthy pace. At least doctors and researchers say so. Little things we do each day can either help us slow down aging or speed it up.
Despite the pep talks, we all seem to age differently. I have friends who play pickleball while I opt for retail cardio to exercise.
Some find themselves slowed down considerably mentally and physically, while others move about as though no time passed at all.
Is it luck? Is it genes? Or is it a result of past choices? Beats the hell out of me. Perhaps in the end it’s a combo of all of those.
Food, exercise, using our brain, staying in motion, yata yata yata is all supposed to play a part. I haven’t the nerve to tell my body parts that chocolate is on the endangered list. No way I’m going there.
Whatever the answer it’s a simple fact we all could do better in some ways. And should we always be grateful to still be here and schlepping along, peak performance or not? For sure. We definitely should. Life can be enjoyable in new ways and surprises we never expected, so moving forward optimistically is always the way to go.
Whatever our limitations, hopefully ending up with matching shoes each morning should at least be within our reach. Boy these walking shoes all look alike now where is the mate to this…?
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