Among Friends

[jubilant]

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@LindaSal wrote:

I still feel fairly young and somewhat vibrant however, I also feel at times that there are things I just can't do anymore in the same time frame, everything seems to take longer than it used to.  What I have learned over the years is to listen to my body........for me that has been a game changer.  When you feel you need rest, rest.  When you feel something may be too much physically, it probably is.   I find myself having to be more and more cautious about falling, whoever thought that was coming??   I've always been in good shape and have pretty good balance but at the same time have had a couple of falls I never expected??

It is what it is and all we can do is our best.   

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@LindaSal  I took a bad fall last winter.Thankfully I didn't break my arm but it was pretty messed up. Since my stroke I'm quite a bit more forgetful. I forgot to close a drawer and tripped over it.  I close all my drawers now as soon as I'm done with them! Yesterday I did yard work and had to take a rest after just an hour so I see what you mean.

[AuntG]

It can be difficult to accept changes that come with age. I'm much slower going up and down stairs. My deep housecleaning no longer involves taking everything out of the room. Long handled dusters keep me grounded.

[jubilant]

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@AuntG wrote:

It can be difficult to accept changes that come with age. I'm much slower going up and down stairs. My deep housecleaning no longer involves taking everything out of the room. Long handled dusters keep me grounded.

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@AuntG  Yes, those long handled dusters are a God-send.  I have 2 or 3 of them now. I also don't clean everything as often as I used to. There's just the 2 of us and anymore I have to "see dirt to clean dirt"!

[kaydee50]

Since I dislocated a bone in my foot several years ago I have trouble going down stairs.  Take an elevator whenever I can.  I use a cane that I don't really need but it gives me a feeling of security walking on uneven city streets.  It's also my "magic wand" to keep elevator doors open, front seats on the bus and even given priority on airplanes and on lines for ladies rooms!  I'm 75 and as long as I can walk, I have no problem getting older.  It is what it is!

[Jk9]

I understand what you're saying!  I have found it pays to listen to my body and check out what I can do without assuming I can still do something.  It happens to all of us and we are wise to listen when something says "hold up a bit"  before we dive right in there.  As a "farm girl" I am faced with adjustments almost daily.  

[jlkz]

@Sooner 

Please add: Do not push or try to move things in place with your knee(s)....e.g., I had 4 weeks to learn that from nudging a king size mattress into place as I finished changing the bed.  It was MCL ligament.  ( Football players usually do in the ACL one. )

[haddon9]

I was just thinking something similar.  I turned 70 last year and to me it is a daunting number. 

For the last few days I have had a mild cold.  Symptoms have been a mild sore throat, stuffy nose and very mild fever.  Today  finally felt a bit better to do a few things.  After taking a shower, having breakfast and doing two loads of laundry, I am ready for a nap again.....I can't bounce back as quickly as I did before.

[wagirl]

I think that was a very considerate gesture from your relative! Did you take her up on the help? I would have without any thought--I AM older--70 now--and I KNOW when something is more than I can handle and gratefully accept the help. If it saves me a weird accident just because I could do something years before--and can't quite do it now--thank you for helping me. 

[RetRN]

This is such an interesting thread. I used to be able to do most things for myself. Changing light bulbs, cleaning above kitchen cabinets, cleaning light fixtures, taking down window treatments, and the list goes on. I always prided myself on being a pretty good housekeeper. Boy, has that changed. 

I've had a stroke, torn my bicep tendon lifting a box up onto a shelf, vertigo, along with other health issues. I have accepted that my life has changed. 

[Neetgal2]

I encounter things almost daily that are making more obvious my age.  This year I had trouble doing my taxes!  I am a retired accountant.  I have been using same program for years?  I think there were more questions due to my age.  I have been fighting getting cleaning help but yesterday finally told myself, it is time.  I do therapy for almost every part of my body under doctors orders, age is a hard fight and not a winning one!

Very hard to accept the inevitable!