Thursday 15 April 2021

“You can hide things from the world, but you can never hide things from time.” ― Kim Dong Hwa

 I'm okay getting older, and I'm more or less okay with my aging looks. However, it's the decaying body that is becoming a problem. I had an alarm bell moment this week that made me realise that my body would put a stop to certain activities in time, whether I wanted to do them or not.

For years we have done those rope courses with the kids. Big groups of us going to Treetops in Ourimbah or Minmi in the school holidays. I would be one of the supervising parents on the high course while one of the other parents would watch my baby/toddler/six year old on the low rope course.

I always found it fun and fairly easy. I didn't think twice when I decided to take the youngest and a friend to do the Treetops course at Pennant Hills this week, as she was finally tall enough to do the high course. It would be some fun forest bathing for us inner city mice.


But in the six years or so since I'd last done it, something had changed. My body had aged. I found even Green easy course tricky and less enjoyable because I lacked confidence. On the Blue course I got into the rhythm and thought "Oh, I'm just out of practice. I just needed to warm up." However on the Red course, I really hurt myself slamming into some wood posts and couldn't hold my weight on the swing rope and was exhausted by the time we finished. I had fun but it was hard and I was aware of my frailness. I am aware my days of this type of activity are finite. There is an end date, not set by my will or desire. It worries me.

I said to my husband, "They want to do the Black course when they turn 16. I don't think I'll be able to do it in four years time." I can't tell you how sad this makes me. Not specifically about the ropes course, but I am reaching the point in life where my body dictates my limitations.



While dangling from a rope, trying to pull myself into the climbing web, my daughter's friend apologised for picking the hard* route, not the easy route. I yelled at my daughter "When you are really hating my guts, just remember I did this for you". The two guys behind me laughed. 

Later at the lockers, one of the young men came up to me and said "Good on you. Mum of the f#cking year if you ask me!"** So I'm taking that title and owning it! Might even get it made into a tee for such occasions when I'm physically out of my depth.

I am looking at this endless COVID time with the same sadness, knowing I'm on the clock in terms of what I'll be able to do physically by the time we get the big festivals and travel and other fun stuff back. All I can say is make hay while the sun shines, because it gets cloudy sooner than you think.

Now off to do some agility training, in an attempt to steal some time back into this body.


* Always do the Hard route. The Easy route looked lame, even to me. Notwithstanding my fails, I would have regretted taking the easy route

** I suspect he knew I wouldn't be upset by the emphatic swearing due to what he may have heard coming out of my mouth when I slammed into the poles...







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18 comments:

  1. I also struggle with less confidence in my own body's performance. But you made it. That's great!

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  2. I'm going to be 70 in September and I know the limitations my body will endure. I also know that if you work at getting your body back in shape you'll be surprised at what you can do. Not the same but much better than this. Trust me on this. We'll never be what we were in our prime, but we can still get out there and do what we can.

    Have a fabulous day. ♥

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  3. I saw some young women today that I haven't laid eyes on since they were little girls. Only after greeting and laughing with them about how I could barely recognize them did it occur to me that I must have looked ancient to them... 😁

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    1. Yes, I think I'm young until my true age is reflected back at me...and it often is. Yikes!

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  4. I say good on you for giving it a go :) And keep going until your body says no more. With strength and determination, sometimes you can even surprise yourself! Thanks for linking up with #KCACOLS

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  5. Great effort! I always worry about how I’ll keep up as my little man grows. Being a slightly older first time Dad (33) I have to consider how I will cope when my body starts to deteriorate whilst he gets stronger. Hopefully I’ll be able to keep up the pace!
    #KCACOLS

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  6. Yay well done, sometimes you just have to go for it X #kcacols

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  7. Yes, definitely a well done for going for it! It's funny how inside we might feel 16, but someone forgot to tell our bodies to slow down on the old wear'n'tear. Good on you though, I don't think I've ever been able to manage the courage to happily climb the ropes. Thank you for joining us for #mischiefandmemories

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  8. You definitely sound like a mum of the f******** year to me too! Sending love xx #Mischiefandmemories

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  9. I am about to turn 40 so getting older is definitely on my radar! I am mentally and physically exhausted most days but determined to push myself on that hard route... Thanks for linking up with #MischiefAndMemories

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  10. I love this!! Especially the bit about saying when you hate my guts remember I did this :) #MischiefandMemories

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  11. My 9 year old son and I were talking during out nightly Bible reading about Noah and how he had triplets at the age 500. He was blown away. We mentioned that I'm 35 and can't run and jump next to him all day as I did as a kid. He is convinced I can, lol. He said, "You're 35?! Geez!" I hope that was a good Geez! Most of my problem is my health, or at least I hope so ha! Thank you for sharing on Traffic Jam Weekend at LifeasaLEOWife.com! This was a great read!

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  12. Getting older with physical problems is hard for me, but I have to realize my limits and, although it took a long time, I'm OK with that.

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  13. Yes, I'm still in my 20s in my head, but my body tells me otherwise. I'm hoping that HRT helps! #ForTheLoveOfBlog

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  14. I completely relate to this. Mentally I'm still in my 20s but I also recently did one of these courses and my body very much felt like it was in its 40s! Thanks for linking up to #ForTheLoveofBlog x

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  15. Returning for the #ForTheLoveofBlog linky xx

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  16. Hi, Thanks for linking up to #fortheloveofblog. I'm sorry the badge is causing issues at the moment which are too technical for my brain to fathom! I will hopefully have it sorted soon.

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    1. Happy to just link back with words but didn't want you to think I was being a jerk

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