When we see an old, old person in her 90's we imagine she will be decrepit, stooped over, with a walker or even a wheelchair. Imagine our surprise when this stooped over little woman bursts out in dance.
See this video, called "Mathilde's Solo." I couldn't watch it without tapping my foot and smiling.
How do we make it more probable that we will be thriving, energetic, loving our lives in our 90s?
One question: Are we loving who we are in our 50's, 60s and beyond? Or are we bemoaning our losses? losses of attractiveness, of energy, of flexibility, of resilience to injury? Are we bored with ourselves? Or do we constantly challenge ourselves to new learning, new creativity, new experiences?
I went to CVS to get a new passport photo today. I was chagrined to see the deeply carved frown mark between my eyes. In the professional photo I use, that frown mark is brushed out. "Can't you touch that up?" I asked the 20 year old kid who waited on me. "You look nice," he said.
My husband and I were digging up our veggie garden to get it ready for planting. All of a sudden, he threw down the pick axe he was heaving into the soil, yelled, and dropped down on his back. Even though he had warned me, "Watch your back," he completely forgot that he had been out of commission for weeks last fall because of herniated disks. But days later, he's still mostly pain-free, not writhing in agony as he was last fall. Why is that? Because he spent all these months strengthening his core to prevent further episodes.
How are you "strengthening your core" to steel yourself from injury, discomfort, loss of brain power, loss of enthusiasm? How are you making yourself resilient so that you too can dance at age 90-something? What are you doing to maintain your youthful exuberance while also solidifying the wisdom of maturity?
Write your stories of resiliency here in the comment section.

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