Keeping After It
No Matter What Your Circumstances
Like a bear coming out of hibernation in winter, so are my kids’ legs as they put on shorts for the first time this year with the warm weather. How do you think Alex Smith feels when he puts on shorts for the first time every year? Don’t remember Alex Smith? He was a former NFL quarterback who ended his career with the Washington Commanders. He suffered a horrific knee/leg injury followed by 17 surgeries. In an interview, he said he didn’t want that injury to end his career at nearly 40 years old. He rehabbed, returned, played in the playoffs…then retired. On his own terms, not due to his injury. He got back on the horse!
I’ve long thought that 2 things vital to health are being physically active and being engaged in community. This happens in many forms when we’re younger but becomes more challenging as we age. When young, you often are part of a team: soccer, basketball, etc. When older, it’s harder to find that “team”. Maybe it’s a biking group, track club, or golf foursome when you grow up. A new trend is growing, and I hope it catches on. Rucking. Basically, it’s just going for a walk while carrying heavy weight in the company of friends. Give this podcast from Michael Easter and Rich Roll for a thorough understanding of why this may be a “wonder drug”.
Death? Sure. There’s that potential. There’s also that potential if you sit at home. This is the conversation swirling around in my family as we make plans to hike in the White Mountains this Summer. My dad is in his mid 70’s, and some may consider that too old and dangerous. I have the counter view on that and have long expressed my thoughts to my kids. “Kids would have I always said about me growing old? Should I sit around and fade out or go out swinging in even if that means a heart attack while doing something I love?” They correctly answered the latter. This recent 47-year longitudinal study echoes that sentiment. “Encouragingly, our results show that transitioning from physical inactivity to activity at any age significantly improves performance in all fitness modalities studied.” Absolutely, as we age, our strength, endurance, and tissues in general will give out on us with time. What is also certain is that we can control the speed of that decline!