When I was much younger, I liked climbing trees, playing hide and seek, and riding my bike. For context, we only had a black-and-white television. There were no video games, internet, or cell phones. I did not think much about my body. It was … just there.
I recall a time when I fell and cut my knee so badly that I cut myself to the bone. I remember how odd my knee looked. That was the first time I wanted to become a doctor. Another time, I remember the intense pain I felt when I broke my arm from falling while trying to climb through a window. Long story short, I recovered. I have pretty gnarly scars, but I recovered. I thought that would be the worst of my body pain until aging struck.
Unfortunately, I do not have a body maintenance manual. And, just like your house, everything starts to break down when one thing breaks. Regarding the body, if you add arthritis and obesity to aging, then you have a good picture of what I’m talking about. It starts to break down, and it breaks down fast.
So what do we do? We go ask our doctor who tells us to exercise! But, then again, no manual. As a physician, I thought I knew what to do. I knew exercise would’ve kept my body parts oiled up and running better. However, when I worked up to walking 6 miles a day, three times a week, I developed foot pain, which ended up in bunion surgery. I never recovered from surgery and my days of walking six miles ended.
Then, I used water as my resistance and “exercised” in my hot tub. After one session, I stepped down onto a wet tiled floor and hurt myself. Doi! Pure clumsiness! I agree if you think I should’ve been aware of my body and where I was stepping. I’m a slow learner. Still, through my blundering, I have learned to be attentive more often than not.
What else have I learned?
- I have learned to cope with pain and embrace lack of sleep more graciously,
- I have learned to have a sense of humor about aging. It will not go away!
- I have learned to go ahead and live without a body maintenance manual but use some common sense.
- I have learned about consistency, persistence, and patience regarding the changes and adaptations I can make.
In the end, I am still fat, clumsy, and arthritic, but I am okay in my metaphorical heart … no parts or manual involved.
