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| How many steps did you climb today? |
My husband and I have been restoring an Arizona room on our park model. We have lifted and demolished and measured and planned until we both are ready to drop. I have only participated in the really hard stuff for a few days. It is coming back to me now how I love to work that hard. I embrace the pains and stiff muscles each day. Sleep? I sleep like a baby at night and wake in the morning refreshed and ready to go again. And I slim up really fast...notice I did not say lose weight. Muscle mass weighs more but is less bulky.
Could it be that the retirement that is all about "not working" is very bad for our health both mentally and physically? Do we feel older when we are not "working"? I think so. The truth is that we all need purpose and goals no matter what we are doing in our lives. I am not saying that you need to go back to work. I am saying that you need to get up and work, move, accomplish something. If for no other reason, do it because I said so and just trust me. You will feel better, sleep better and be mentally sharper. In fact I can almost guarantee that you will feel younger in one week!
Give it a try and let me know.
b+
"The grand essentials of happiness are something to do, something to love and something to hope for." - a. k. chalmers
ReplyDeleteBeing productive is high on my list of things to do in retirement, just as it was while I was employed. Tony Robbins sites contribution and significance as 2 of the 6 human needs, as well as certainty, connection, growth and variety. I dare say that "work" could satisfy all of those things for me. My "work" has changed. Now instead of living at work, I work at living. I find that with a house, yard, family and friends, there's always something to do. So far this week, there's been some major snow removal effort, house cleaning after a house concert last week and in anticipation of a BD party for my 82 yr old mother, a trip to a neighboring city >1 hr away for a Jann Arden concert and some shopping (in preparation for a trip to Victoria and the aforementioned party), food preparation for everyday and the party. I feel certain that the 3 essentials are covered this week. Maintaining my house and yard gives me adequate exercise and when there's time and energy left over, there's walking, weights, stationary bike, yoga. And that walking - it isn't just good for the heart, but for the soul as well, like many of the daily tasks.
I loved the "working at living" idea. Honestly, if we are as busy as you describe, when did we have time to work at a job? Thank you for the comment. This is wonderful.
Deletewisdom!!!!!
ReplyDeleteto retire, from everything physical, is a trap. perhaps we can do it, for a while. just "because we can"... like little kids, the first week of summer. ,-)
but then, we really need to take ourselves in hand... even if we aren't really peppy enough, to take on big stuff, everyone can do some sort of m-o-v-e-m-e-n-t... even if confined to a wheel chair, or not so steady on one's feet anymore.... there are sitting in place "exercises."
all this, spoken by she-who-can't-seem-to-get-herself-to-do-daily-walking. -sighhhhh- -moan- -pout-
thank you! a wonderful gentle kick in the butt here!!!!!!!!
Tessa~
(78 next month, but still able to do that daily walk!!!! ,-) )
My husband is 77 (last week) and we are restoring an Arizona room on our park model. We were at Home Depot today and young people kept on coming by to offer help has we loaded 9 pieces of paneling into a rented trunk. My husband assures me that he will not break me so I keep on trucking along and lifting the other end of each board. We are doing so great and if a big boo-boo happens we will go down happy. :)
DeleteI came from Tessa's blog - ...I agree with you - Before we retired I kept up with an acre of property - trimming trees, bushes, planting, replanting, making little rock walls plus I would put in about 8 hours a day on my medical transcription job which was just sitting - ...I would work from morning to dusk and then some and loved it all (except the transcription job). We sold, moved to a much smaller house and property and walk the lake and hike hills whenever we got out - but I don't get enough yard work anymore other than raking leaves - we live in the mountains and most of the yard is dirt. I love hard work - still do (i'm 64 so still young and can still do a long day's work if needed).. I hope I keep at it as I get older. I think I will.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know you will too because I can see that you need it. I love the little glimpse into your mountain life. Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteFirst thanks for your very beautiful comment!
ReplyDeleteWe get a lot of rain--so much we're learning to do outdoor activities in it
But last summer (and I do so feel guilty for complaining) we had so much rain I couldn't keep up with the weeds. I had loved my five years of gardening. This year I found a gardener because I don't want to spend my life weeding! But do love outdoor physical activity.
I am approaching the time when a gardener will not be a luxury anymore. When I do hire one, I am sure I will drive him nuts because I cannot keep my hands out of the gardening process. We will see.
DeleteI'm much better off if I'm moving around, either just to exercise or to be productive. It's too easy to sit at the computer. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right but I am finding that the computer time is more manageable now. I don't understand what is happening but I am happy so who cares?
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