Senior's Scene

On to the Next!

Apr 6, 2021 | 10:31 AM

How we define Senior for ourselves will determine the rest of our lives.

Every single day we need to decide if we will sit in our chairs and watch TV and just live out the rest of our days OR if we consider this a new chapter, full of exciting adventures. It is a decision. Aging in inevitable. How we age has so much to do with our daily decisions.

My birthday is in a few days and I will be 55 – technically a Senior. But I will never be old. I decided that a long time ago. I will age. But I will never be old.

Yes, my knees hurt. Yup…sometimes my back aches. Surely I can be forgetful. Yes, I am putting on weight around my middle. Honestly though, those things have been problems since my 20s.

I decided that if my knees or back or anything else on me hurt – I would find the chiropractor, physiotherapist, massage therapist to work it out. If I have arthritis or if I have osteoperosis – to find the exercise and stretch routines that will help that as much as possible. No body has ever benefitted from sitting. We were designed to move.

I’m finding myself actively trying to learn new things. My son is working on rejuvenating an electric guitar but he has a shakey hand because of a a mild case of cerebral palsy so I re-learned how to solder guitar pickups and if I may say so, I’m awesome at that.

So aging isn’t about retiring from life. It is about discovering what is next with a sense of excitement.

As children leave home, as we “retire” from our jobs, as things change – we can be ready with new plans.

This is a time to think how we have more time to do the things we wanted to do.

My son will be graduating school soon. YES… I had him later in life. But that is a chapter change for me of epic proportions. What will I do? Well, I’ve always wanted to take flight school as my dad was a pilot. I always thought it would be great to take Equine Assisted Learning. I trained for years as a painter but have never had the time to paint but when he leaves home for his own life – I will have the time!

I live in a small town and so many of our seniors are major role models. There are people in their 70s that can outwalk me anytime. As I’ve said previously, my parents are in their late 70s, my dad will be 80 this year, and they are learning about cooking, have used COVID19 isolation time to travel the world through Rick Steve’s Europe DVD series from PBS, to learn about solar, wind and hydro energy.

It’s a wonderful life – right to the end. And I know there are sicknesses of mind and body that can grab us unexpectedly. I do know that very well. But being active and alive … really alive every day will not only help stave that off – but will make our lives and the lives of those around us rich.

In the words of the great Bob Dylan in his song Forever Young,

“May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young
May you stay forever young”

Every day is a gift.

What exciting experience is waiting for you?

This column is sponsored by MacKenzie Funeral Chapel and Crematorium – Compassionate care and impeccable service.

130 9th St. E, Prince Albert, SK

Phone: (306) 763-8488

https://mackenziechapel.ca/

View Comments