I read recently that there are three parts to retirement: Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go. I'm a caretaker for my mom, who is housebound. She can no longer drive, and walking and daily activities are very, very painful for her. So I have seen her go through all of these stages, which has motivated me to really start taking a closer look at my physical health. and so my first thought was, "Oh, I should join a gym. I'll go every day, build up my muscles, get in shape. And then my second thought was, "No, not because it's not good for me, but it's a should. And I made the decision that moving forward, I'm going to stop “shoulding” on myself, because a should isn't motivational for me. It's just shaming.
I grew up not liking my body because I was trying to have it adjust to the way society thought it should look like, and so going to the gym was more of a way of punishing myself for not looking the way I thought I should. It was definitely not something I did out of self-care.
And then I read an article about exercising as an older adult, and the author said, "Think about what do you want to be able to do 10 years from now, and that reframe made all the difference for me. Physical activity, exercising as a form of true self-care? but I was still hesitant to create an exercise routine, and so I asked myself, "What types of activities did I do when I was a kid that brought me joy?
And one of the things I loved was roller skating. When I was in junior high, a group of us would go to roller skating rink., I didn't think of exercise back then, but more of a chance to get dressed up and have somewhere to go with my friends and meet boys. Later in my 20s, I would go down a couple of times a week to the Santa Monica Boardwalk, put my skates on, my Walkman and my mixtape, and I would just skate for miles, and I loved it. It was something that just, I mean, helped me keep in shape, but it also just was so freeing and relaxing.
And so now, in taking a look at caring for myself physically, I want to do things that bring me joy and don't feel like an exercise routine. And that inspired me to do two things. First, I joined an aquafit class at our community college, and iI love it. I really like it because it's something I can do. It doesn't feel like exercise, but it is. And it's just fun splashing around in the water, and I can tell that by doing that, I am starting to reframe the relationship that I have with my body in a more loving, accepting, and caring way. And that feeling is continuing to motivate me t-to try other things.
So think about what brings you joy to keep you moving. Maybe it's golf. Maybe it's bowling, pickleball, being a volunteer dog walker at the Humane Society, or a movement class you can explore at the Y, or a community college, maybe it's dancing in your room like no one's watching. Seriously, if you just feel awkward, shut the door. Moving now is an investment in the things that you want to be able to do in the future. So take it slow, take it easy. Talk to your doctor if you have limitations or health concerns. Be safe. None of us can afford to break a hip.
*Health Disclaimer: This article is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health needs and before making decisions about medical care, treatment, medications, diet, exercise, or other health-related matters.
