A MONDAY MORNING MEMO TO ME

4.25.22

I recently arrived at (and passed) another milestone in my life. To put it in a way I still have trouble comprehending, I have taken another full lap around the sun. I won’t go into specifics, but I will say I do remember when a five-dollar bill was enough to take a date to the movies and share a coke afterwards. I also remember when a gallon of gas cost around 31 cents.

Recently I find myself reflecting over my accumulated years like two clenched fists… where my entangled fingers represent both successes and failures intermingled and synced exactly like they are supposed to be. But that is not the point of today’s reminder.

I woke today like I usually do. But today was noticeably different. Like always, before swinging my legs off the bed searching for the floor, I ask myself how my back felt? In most cases, this results in a 60-40 response favoring the negative side. Today, I had good news.

Walking into the kitchen came effortlessly as I prepared a pot with the proper ingredients to make two cups of jo. (Barbara prefers tea. I boil her water later when she gets up.) Then, it is off to my favorite location in the living room to “Wordle” before cheating my way through the USA Today Crossword Puzzle. Today I asked “Alexis” to play selections from The Eagles in the background. One particular song lyric hit home. (Don’t let the sound of your own wheels make you crazy.) Another day was well underway … another 1/365 24-hour period was in motion toward another revolution around the sun.

But today was markedly different. I felt something I have not felt for a long time. I felt … painless. I smiled at the sensation, or lack thereof, and silently took a complete body inventory.

My toes felt good. My ankles were working nicely. Both calves indicated they were ready to do some running again. Thighs, hips, torso, shoulders, neck, arms and all ten fingers seemed to be in good working order. I said to myself, “Mike, maybe … just maybe your current exercise regimen is beginning to pay dividends.” This assertion was confirmed as I exited my chair and headed for cup #two.

Regardless of the reasoning behind this euphoric feeling, I liked what was going on. I committed right there and then to blame it on exercise and vowed to continue doing what I had been doing…. jogging, bilking and swimming. Exercising regularly.

Those people who brush off age as just a number mean well, but really don’t know what they are talking about. Every “body” has a shelf life which sooner or later is going to call it a day. The challenge is whether your day is going to come sooner or later. If “later” is something you have in mind, there are a few things you can do that just might work in your favor. You can control your eating habits. You can move more regularly. You can rest periodically. And you can learn to enjoy the ride as long as you possibly can.

I’m currently enjoying another trip around the sun, and I would like to think that the next few hundred mornings will greet me with the same comfortable feeling I am enjoying today. Although I am not the sharpest knife in the draw, I do recognize the fact that subsequent feelings are largely the result of my own doings. I realize I must continue to “move” although there are less taxing ways to engage my aging limbs.

Note: I began writing these thoughts as a reminder to “me.” I later decided to share them with you in hope that perhaps you might benefit from my often-disjointed thought processes. You be the judge.  (By the way, today’s WORDLE word was …… No such luck. I’m no leak.)