As I was putting on my shoes this morning I noticed the techniques that I had developed so that my old body could take care of all tasks. Instead of reaching down and working the socks over my toes and up over my ankles in one smooth pull, I found that I got my toes into them, scrunched my foot down, grabbed the top and pulled the sock up in little increments. I have the same types of things when I’m getting dressed with other items of my wardrobe. I have adapted to my aging body, my stiffening joints, my sometimes questionable balance, and just general oldness.
I thought came to me what a trauma it would be if someone could take my 18 year-old mind And put it into my 78-year-old body. I’m not sure that I could adjust. If I did, it would take a bit of time. When you’re used to standing on one leg with no problem to put your pants on suddenly if you were put in a position where standing on one leg had a tendency to make you sitting on one floor you have to adjust.
How many things in life have we adjusted to over the years? I guess that’s one reason why we don’t get old immediately. It takes time to learn all the little intricate maneuvers that make up for loss of youthful vigor. I would imagine what goes for our physical bodies also goes for our mental capacities except I think that in many ways the experiences of life tend to add wisdom and understanding that make up for the fatigue. We may fall asleep earlier, but we make more progress on thinking big thoughts than we could when we were younger.
I think that may be part of the reason why young people tend to be more liberal and older people more conservative. Those of us who have reached beyond retirement age have enough experience to know that certain things just don’t work. Doesn’t matter how much you wish or how hard you try, it’s not going to work. Unfortunately, those lessons seem to be the kinds of things that we can only learn by experience. I remember when I was working in the preschool Sunday school class. A young man would come in the door, about three years old, run across the room yelling “Spider-Man” and throw himself against the wall. My memory may be faulty, but I don’t think he ever stuck. I’m not sure if he ever learned either. Unfortunately that’s how some people are.
Rejoicing where you are in life. Each step has its advantages. Meanwhile, I need to put on my shoes.
homo unius libri
Saturday, November 15, 2025
Opus 2025-527: Adjustments
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It’s comforting to know how God takes care of us by giving us experience and wisdom to handle things now and in our upcoming years! Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteIt is even more obvious when we try to do something we have not done in a long time. I think God helps us adjust.
DeleteGrace and peace,
Pumice
Hello. Pumice...Lynney62 here. Being 81 (82 coming soon) I learned a trick for putting on my slacks>>>lean against the bed, stand on left leg, use bed as support, raise rt. leg about 12 inches, slip it into slack's rt. leg..turn around (slowly) and repeat using rt. leg as support and hope the bed never moves! I laughed when I read your post..so true.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, the curse of the moving bed. That sounds like it could be an entire post.
DeleteBlessings,
Pumice
Pumice, I am 88 1/2 and find I have little patience with "adjusting". I can still put pants on, one leg at a time. So many brain activities get thrown out from little use. So, what is needed has to be retrained. There are so many simple, less than 5 minutes exercises that greatly improve things. Balance exercises are very important. With aging, we must learn to "fight the good fight". All good wishes, Julia
ReplyDeleteJulia,
DeleteI think you have a good point. There are times when we should continue to strive instead of adjusting. It could bee the downward spiral is accelerated by our adjustments.
I am watching a few videos on exercise. There are a lot out there. The issue is to pick the ones that will work and I will actually do.
Grace and peace,
Pumice