I stepped in some human pee today while in socks. Not my pee. Never leave someone’s hospital room on the trauma ward without your shoes on. Not even if you are just going to the nutrition room to get your friend a juice out of the community fridge. I’m sure that was in
I’m a nurse. We have a saying. “If it’s wet and it’s warm and it doesn’t belong to you, don’t touch it.” Hahaha. Glad you’re there for your friend and wishing her a speedy recovery and you a clean sock.
Best wishes to your friend for a continued/full recovery. When your friend is better and you revisit her, I hope she'll take you to the Sweetwater Wetlands park. I went for the first time in late March and was astounded by the bird life - and the alligator life. 👀
You say: "How do I stay in a place where I don’t feel I’m aging physically or mentally? I’d tell you but you won’t listen…" Oh, but I would listen!
I don't feel my age (52), have never felt compelled to hide it and am often greeted by strangers' surprise when I reveal it.
How to remain vital and interested at any age ... I think having an innate interest/lifelong curiosity about the world, and especially the wild/public lands, keeps me interested! Interest begets interest. (Of course, life events, anxiety, depression, even poor sleep can occasionally defeat or temporarily tamper that interest.)
I just returned from a seven-day trip to southwestern Utah for solo hiking. Nobody could join me, including my partner, for that length of time, and I never once considered letting that stop me.
But to say that age isn't slowing me down at all is deception. I'm in perimenopause too - spared the worst of it, but the arthritis increased rapidly for me, as did the sleep difficulties on top of already chronic sleep issues, and I'm more inclined to take a one-day break from the all-day hikes to let my body rest. And to be OK with it! Plus, then I get to do all the other things that most 52-year-old women don't do - like ride a way too small bike for my 6-foot-tall frame around a tiny Utah town with a camera around my neck and a journal in my shorts' pocket and get invited by lifelong residents in their late 80s to join them on their porch for conversation.
Then there's the boring stuff: Exercise and good eatin' habits, which include vigorous rejection of dieting, diet culture and food fads and the very American "all or nothing" approach to what's on my plate and a full embrace of occasional indulgence. Everything in moderation, including moderation - and all that. 💚
I've been reading piles of Mary Oliver and the line about remaining a bride to amazement is what I'm aiming for. I want to always be curious and voracious about learning, including walking in the woods and on beaches and through new cities.
Sending healing vibes to your friend. My horse tossed me 2 years ago and I broke 5 ribs. At 52, it was only one of the worst traumatic injuries in my life. Youth may be resilient, but it's only with experience of age are we able to know these things pass. I, however, have yet to get back in the saddle. Working through that mental block. I was never the most experienced,
or balanced rider, and this shattered my confidence more than my ribs.
As far as the aging thing, I had some mind-bending experiences as a hospice nurse, specifically in a Veteran’s hospital where I spent my career. It’s hard to describe what it’s like walking into a room wherein lies an old, often very sad, usually cancer-ridden old soldier ~ and there on the dresser is his military photo.
I look right, dying old man. I look left, a beautiful young man, in perfect health, big smile. (I admit my favorites were the Navy suits with *the best* hat ever and the cute little tie). Same man. Diametrically opposed situations. Or???
It was as though I could see their life flashing before MY eyes. When caring for them, I silently acknowledged that 18 or 20 year old boy/young man. They were in there.
We change, but I don’t think our spirit ages in the same way our bodies do. My yoga teacher always said we are so much more energetic than physical beings.
I feel as though I have not left my younger self behind. I am more like “Get in, girl, we’re going to see what 60 is like!”
It’s my friends 55th birthday today, and a group of us had this same “I don’t feel old” convo over breakfast. I’m pushing 50, and the peri menopausal stuff is REAL!! The only part of me that truly reminds me of my age daily is my back, but it’s really easy to blame a career in healthcare on that instead of the number of times I’ve circled the sun 😅 Glad your friend has all that spunk and is on the mend.
I don't feel 73. More like 21. Still pause to make sure I can enter when I see contest rules saying "must be 18 and older to enter." We are newcomers to VT, so rehabbing an old house, babysitting, volunteering, writing and more, make the days fly by. Happier now than any other time in my life. The only downside is trying to explain at CVS that the incontinence pads are for my ailing father. The cute teenage clerk doesn't seem to buy it. Big fan of your artistry. Hope you'll take a look at my Rocky Point Substack newsletter
My trick to stave off that energy number bomb thing that takes place with: youth interactions or cool girls half my age ( mainly this) is to find solace with a fellow Gen X 1969 to 1976 & talk pop culture. It grounds me, consoles me & reminds me of my journey. 1969 was a year of a year & I couldn't be more of a Virgo born on a Saturday if I tried..
I'm in my 50s and I've started to learn a new language about 2 years ago. It's not easy, but it's so worth it. With the new language came a whole new universe of music, literature (although still a bit too difficult a lot of times), history, friendships, mentality, you name it. It's like getting a glimpse at a different life (if that makes any sense).
I’m a nurse. We have a saying. “If it’s wet and it’s warm and it doesn’t belong to you, don’t touch it.” Hahaha. Glad you’re there for your friend and wishing her a speedy recovery and you a clean sock.
Now that I'm my 40s, I have managed to pull a muscle... in my sleep! :P
You have not peaked yet! That’s why you feel young. I’m the same way…im 57 and feel 20.
Most people peak in high school, football star, cheerleader etc. Same reason your musical taste aren’t stuck in a past decade like a lot of folks.
I don’t think I’ll ever peak…my guess is you probably won’t either!
There’s my 2 cents worth.
Glad your friend is healing up!
Best wishes to your friend for a continued/full recovery. When your friend is better and you revisit her, I hope she'll take you to the Sweetwater Wetlands park. I went for the first time in late March and was astounded by the bird life - and the alligator life. 👀
You say: "How do I stay in a place where I don’t feel I’m aging physically or mentally? I’d tell you but you won’t listen…" Oh, but I would listen!
I don't feel my age (52), have never felt compelled to hide it and am often greeted by strangers' surprise when I reveal it.
How to remain vital and interested at any age ... I think having an innate interest/lifelong curiosity about the world, and especially the wild/public lands, keeps me interested! Interest begets interest. (Of course, life events, anxiety, depression, even poor sleep can occasionally defeat or temporarily tamper that interest.)
I just returned from a seven-day trip to southwestern Utah for solo hiking. Nobody could join me, including my partner, for that length of time, and I never once considered letting that stop me.
But to say that age isn't slowing me down at all is deception. I'm in perimenopause too - spared the worst of it, but the arthritis increased rapidly for me, as did the sleep difficulties on top of already chronic sleep issues, and I'm more inclined to take a one-day break from the all-day hikes to let my body rest. And to be OK with it! Plus, then I get to do all the other things that most 52-year-old women don't do - like ride a way too small bike for my 6-foot-tall frame around a tiny Utah town with a camera around my neck and a journal in my shorts' pocket and get invited by lifelong residents in their late 80s to join them on their porch for conversation.
Then there's the boring stuff: Exercise and good eatin' habits, which include vigorous rejection of dieting, diet culture and food fads and the very American "all or nothing" approach to what's on my plate and a full embrace of occasional indulgence. Everything in moderation, including moderation - and all that. 💚
I've been reading piles of Mary Oliver and the line about remaining a bride to amazement is what I'm aiming for. I want to always be curious and voracious about learning, including walking in the woods and on beaches and through new cities.
Sending healing vibes to your friend. My horse tossed me 2 years ago and I broke 5 ribs. At 52, it was only one of the worst traumatic injuries in my life. Youth may be resilient, but it's only with experience of age are we able to know these things pass. I, however, have yet to get back in the saddle. Working through that mental block. I was never the most experienced,
or balanced rider, and this shattered my confidence more than my ribs.
I’m happy your friend is doing well.
Into every life, a little pee must fall.
As far as the aging thing, I had some mind-bending experiences as a hospice nurse, specifically in a Veteran’s hospital where I spent my career. It’s hard to describe what it’s like walking into a room wherein lies an old, often very sad, usually cancer-ridden old soldier ~ and there on the dresser is his military photo.
I look right, dying old man. I look left, a beautiful young man, in perfect health, big smile. (I admit my favorites were the Navy suits with *the best* hat ever and the cute little tie). Same man. Diametrically opposed situations. Or???
It was as though I could see their life flashing before MY eyes. When caring for them, I silently acknowledged that 18 or 20 year old boy/young man. They were in there.
We change, but I don’t think our spirit ages in the same way our bodies do. My yoga teacher always said we are so much more energetic than physical beings.
I feel as though I have not left my younger self behind. I am more like “Get in, girl, we’re going to see what 60 is like!”
Peace out, Neko.
It’s my friends 55th birthday today, and a group of us had this same “I don’t feel old” convo over breakfast. I’m pushing 50, and the peri menopausal stuff is REAL!! The only part of me that truly reminds me of my age daily is my back, but it’s really easy to blame a career in healthcare on that instead of the number of times I’ve circled the sun 😅 Glad your friend has all that spunk and is on the mend.
I don't feel 73. More like 21. Still pause to make sure I can enter when I see contest rules saying "must be 18 and older to enter." We are newcomers to VT, so rehabbing an old house, babysitting, volunteering, writing and more, make the days fly by. Happier now than any other time in my life. The only downside is trying to explain at CVS that the incontinence pads are for my ailing father. The cute teenage clerk doesn't seem to buy it. Big fan of your artistry. Hope you'll take a look at my Rocky Point Substack newsletter
Sleeping through the night is wonderful. I’m still trying to figure out how to not wake up in the middle of it.
Wet socks are the worst though. It doesn’t matter if it is pee or not. 😂
My trick to stave off that energy number bomb thing that takes place with: youth interactions or cool girls half my age ( mainly this) is to find solace with a fellow Gen X 1969 to 1976 & talk pop culture. It grounds me, consoles me & reminds me of my journey. 1969 was a year of a year & I couldn't be more of a Virgo born on a Saturday if I tried..
I'm in my 50s and I've started to learn a new language about 2 years ago. It's not easy, but it's so worth it. With the new language came a whole new universe of music, literature (although still a bit too difficult a lot of times), history, friendships, mentality, you name it. It's like getting a glimpse at a different life (if that makes any sense).
Oh darlin, just you wait. It’s sneaking up on you as I write this.
Oh no. Socks on hospital floors...eek! Your friend is lucky to have had you there.
I loved the photo - as well as the thoughts, of course.