How do you accept change as you age?

Posted by Scott, Volunteer Mentor @IndianaScott, Apr 8, 2020

Aging and accepting our changes is never easy!

One of my favorite sayings is ‘it’s a good thing our children grow older, but parents don’t!’ Often I wish this was true and while it’s a positive message, not our reality.

Like it or not, time and life take their toll on us and we change. However accepting these changes can be a challenge in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. Both physically and emotionally I might add.

I remember well after caring for my wife for the first seven years of her war with brain cancer my dad passed away and I was able to get to his memorial service. I was very excited to see our two grandsons and decided being ‘as young as you feel’, and wanting to make up for lost time entered into a rousing game of Freeze Tag in the hotel’s front yard. All went well until I made too fast a deke and found myself flying across far more sod than I should have been! Result? Four broken ribs, a painfully long recovery, and a reminder I’m not as agile as I once was!

I also realize that the realistic view of our age is not relegated to ourselves alone. I’ve spoken with our adult children about this and they have said they don’t really see me as aging, but just as ‘Dad’, who they want to do all the same things with they have done in the past. On the other hand, our grandsons see me as ‘grandpa’ and are comfortable ‘just having me around’ especially if there happens to be a Dairy Queen nearby!

So it is I‘ve begun to think more about the importance of accepting the changes and limitations imposed on us as we advance in age. While I’m not cashing in any chips I don’t need to, I have found I do avoid a few challenges I used to gladly accept. For instance last summer I went whitewater rafting on some Class V rapids. After almost drowning, I have forgone any return trips to rivers with this class of rapids. I swim well, just not as far and as long as I used to be able to while fully clothed and in heavy gear.

While I miss those rapids and full contact Freeze Tag, I know why my grandmother often told me ‘discretion is the better part of valor’.

As you age, are you practicing discretion, even when you wish you didn’t have to? Is it hard like it is for me?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

@bill54321

My wif is from Wyoming and has a full encased display of her Indian heads, We collect chars in New Mexico. A dislpay of a basket full always brings envy. I am one of 9 children. I got D with an identical twin talk until Junior High. I learned I had dyslexia. I attened 3 colleges and graduated from Stanford in Physical Therapy. I was in combat in heart break Ridge, Punch Bowl, and Triangle Hill. My wife and I have done underwater photography around the world. I put 4 daughters through school. I ended up working until 70 and have a little pension. My house is on a reverse Mortgage. I use a walker, but so What?

Jump to this post

@bill54321, Interesting to hear more about you and your wife. Thank you for your service! One of 9 siblings, a twin and overcoming dyslexia, graduating from such a prestigious Stanford and then the horrors of combat make you not only a survivor but also a man who who has learned well how to value and appreciate life. As for using the walker, my idea is whatever helps us get where we want to go is the tool to use. I have hearing aids but rarely wear them unless out with others. Keep the tv loud but kitty, Precious, always has the option to go to a quieter room, yes? Smiles

REPLY
@fiesty76

I do the same with turning off electronics early around 9p and then "read" myself to sleepy state. I appreciate your friendship, too!
I am sorry that about that dratted fibro, understand it is quite something to have to deal with. You do seem to keep busy and I think that is what keeps us "up and attim", yes? ...wellllll, at least up??? vbg

Jump to this post

@fiesty76 Somedays are better then others I did to much today I tell myself each time I overdue ,wish I d listen to myself lol

REPLY

@lioness, Yes, Linda, some days are better and more productive than others. Yesterday I worked longer than usual in the backyard and felt such a sense of satisfaction at day's end. Today this slug is hardly moving. Not from physical pain or effort but lack of initiative. Just doing the basics seems all I can manage some days.

REPLY

@fiesty76 Sounds like me aI overdid at shopping now can't hardly move today Consolation tomorrow is a new day pace yourself I'm a good one to talk

REPLY

@lioness, Smiling, too true. Like "do as I say, not as I do"?

REPLY
@fiesty76

Hi, @jeanie26, I'm adding another welcome to our seniors group. Like you, I'm not into white water rafting, smile, but I was always very active and energetic. Any chronic pain and specifically back pain which resulted from an injury in trying to reposition my mom in the car can stop us in our tracks. I have osteoporosis and both high and low b.p. The sudden bouts of hypotension make me a fall risk. There is a walking/exercise thread on the forum that provides opportunities for those of us at all levels of ability and endurance to participate in to keep us motivated. There have been good links posted for armchair and balancing. I was not only shocked but deeply offended when it dawned on me that I could no longer do all that for most of my life I'd taken for granted. Learning to actually accept some limitations was a very real struggle for me. At 76, I'm ahead of you in years but I guarantee you that coming to the acceptance that I needed to focus on what I could still do, although for much shorter periods and some things not at all anymore, has been a daunting task for one who thought of herself as a lady Hercules. With your career as a nurse, I am surprised that you are moving at all! So much lifting, turning, and assisting patients has to have taken a huge toll on one's back. As an extended family caregiver, I salute you and all nurses as the medical angels you are! If the truth were told, I imagine the thought of losing our independence is one of the largest concerns most of us consider as we celebrate more birthdays. I live alone and find vacuuming and cleaning tubs and commodes my hardest household tasks because of the bending. In my book that you are doing your lawn and driving a riding mower says a great deal about your determination and effort to remain as active as possible. Two years ago, I helped my daughter restain her large surround porch and I can promise you I was reaching for some muscle relaxants so kudos to you for tackling your porch painting...that is work new friend! Personally, I've learned that slowing down for me is just what "is". Now, instead of fuming because I can't do what I could before, I've come to terms with that and just feel like on those off days that just "still being here is quite enough". After all, we spent years working to provide for ourselves and others; now it is our turn to do at our own pace. As a friend told me long ago: C+ is still passing....for a type A personality then, that was hard to swallow. Now, if I choose not to push for a day or two, I figure I'm entitled. Do you have purely for pleasure hobbies that hold your interest? I read murder mysteries and biographies for escape before bed and play online games; watch documentaries and PBS with some Netflix thrown in for good measure. What about you?

Jump to this post

@gayle1, Hi, Gayle, I noticed you liked an earlier post so checked your profile. I'm glad to be meeting you here for the first time. It sounds as though you have truly been through the wringer with medical issues. I am so sorry you have born the results of the opiods that are changing so many lives in harmful ways. You mentioned in your profile that you are bedridden now. Are you able to use your hands to read, change tv channels, or do any crafts, work puzzles? While differing health issues brought us to this wonderful Connect group, have you found as I have that regardless of the specific malady, participants are all so supportive and interesting to get to know a little better? I first joined the Kidney/Bladder group when first diagnosed with stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD) nearly a year ago. Starting the Covid-19 forums has been a wonderful addition to the health specific groups. Do you participate in the Just Want to Talk, Visuals, or other interest groups? Again, thank you for reading and liking my post.

REPLY

Yes Scott, we have to accept it. If we don't, it will remind us. I took a diminishing curb wrong last December while at the same time dealing with patellofemoral syndrome. Now it's nearly August and I still have a thumb that goes out of joint and plantar faciitis. Possible misspellings here. My mind is ready for anything, but my body says, "you've got to be kidding me." Acceptance has been a new word for me.

REPLY

Yes Scot, aging is a learning experience like none other. I can do most things, just not as fast. Rest has become a very important experience for me. Things take more time but are most enjoyable when I take more frequent rest periods. Of course there are things I can no longer do like running and playing basketball. Yet life is good, giving thanks for what I can do helps not to be depressed over what I cannot. Thankfulness is a great blessing.😊

REPLY

It's from any how one's body reminds us how it's changing and we need to pay attention so one can enjoy future adventures.

REPLY

I am bothered by the fact that my children and new friends have no idea what I was like 20 years ago, and feel I'm not representing myself in the best way. Does that seem shallow?

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.