Retired Reflections

An example for the "young"

Yesterday my Spanish teacher and, on Monday, my friend Sylvia, who I help in a school reading program, both voiced these thoughts. They want to be like me when they are "older". The comments came because I had sent Sylvia some pictures of my hiking and I was late for Spanish because of ice-skating.

I remember when I turned 40. I had a gal working for me (Sandy) who loved to ski. On my birthday that year, we had spent a week skiing. I remember it well because I got a bike odometer as a present and it recorded the 40 mile roundtrip up the mountain to the lodge midweek. I was pretty proud of that. When I returned to work, Sandy commented that she hoped she would be doing all these things when she turned 40!

Then, and now at 62, I never thought doing those activities were the important thing. I love doing them and know how lucky I am to be able to still do them. Call it luck, good genes, whatever. I hope they don't define me. I think (and I remember telling Sandy this) that the important thing is to keep an open mind to new ideas and new things to do. Many of us will have physical challenges as we age. Learning, trying new things, acquiring new friends - these are more important to keeping one young. I learned to fly an airplane at 50 - I certainly won't say everyone should (or can) do that but learning a musical instrument would be just as challenging and exciting for me. Taking Spanish is the same. And friends. My friends today include many that I did not know at 40. Making new friends also comes in the category of challenging and exciting.

It is a great world to keep growing in!

posted by Mary @ 8:37 AM