Growing older

Yikes! I'm not the least bit used to being 70 years of age and now I'm closing in on 74! For many years I've been telling myself that I'm not old, that 60 is the new 40. Yeah, right, I can hear you whispering under your breath. But at 70, it's really hard to deny that one is not old! Part of the reason I have been successfully living in denial is that I have been fortunate with regard to good health. When I reached 70, however, things started to change. Now it's one thing after another -- atrial fibrillation, mysterious lung ailments, sudden hearing loss. What next? I already have hearing aids and contact lenses. Maybe new teeth. To help me move through these afflictions, I've adopted a mantra: "It could be worse." And indeed it could. What I have had to deal with is child's play compared with challenges that many people face. I know I'm lucky and that I have no right to complain. Still, it's not easy having to give up things that I once enjoyed. Skiing has been out of the question for years, but that's not a great sacrifice for me. Never once did I stand at the top of an icy ski hill and not ask myself, "What in God's name are you doing here??" No, skiing is not a loss, but biking is, and tennis, and most of all, sailing which requires more strength, agility and balance than we (Bruce and I) are capable of mustering even together. Of course, I could try all these things again, but the truth is that, after suffering a bad fall (broken ribs, injured lung) a couple of years ago, I don't want to take that risk again. So where does that leave me? (1) grateful for the general good health I still enjoy, (2) determined to take care of myself as best I can through exercise and diet, (3) joyful at the love and support of family and friends, (4) inspired to make my life more about helping others and less about myself.