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How much my knees interefere with what I want to do.

AND how much my "poop" schedule effects what I sign up for. On a cruise right now: kind of obsessed with pooping before I get off each day.
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cwillie Nov 2022
LOL
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The main thing that surprised me about getting older was that it seemed to have happened so fast. All of my injuries in my younger years have caught up with me in the form of arthritis.  My body is attacking itself.  My doctor tells me to get more exercise, but I’m no longer able to walk without a walker.  I had my hand x-rayed this morning because it feels like It's broken. I didn’t know arthritis could hurt so much.  Much more of this and I will call it quits.
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lealonnie1 Nov 2022
That's how my big toe feels when I walk on bare feet! Like it's broken, due to arthritis. :( Gotta love it when the docs harp on 'more exercise' when those of us with bad arthritis are lucky to get out of bed every day!
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Not being able to run, jump, take staairs 2 at a time, squat, sit & lie on the floor (impossible to get up!)
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Ditto on the skin. I'm 62 and it is so loose and crepey and dry. Especially on the arms!
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Maryjann Nov 2022
Same age; same comment.
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I have been taken by surprise that so many of my beliefs/assumptions about old age were false. My mother and all my aunts and most of my uncles lived well into their 90's, one grandparent lived to 102. I spent a fair amount of time with them as they aged. I thought I understood the process.

In particular, I believed that those who stayed active remained capable. Horrors! I had it backward: those who remain capable have the ability to be active! I have learned that even though I have stubbornly kept up my gardening, walking, housework, and exercises, there are some activities that have become more difficult, then impossible. My continued practice does not insure continued ability!

I can no longer get down on the floor--nor up from it. I must stoop and bend at the waist to deal with anything on the floor. I have my workarounds, but I am dismayed that I cannot do some of the things that I could still do at 60.

On the other hand, I have found that the level of contentment that I have in living the life I choose is much greater than at any previous time in my life. I am focusing more on short term and medium term goals. The joy I have in a clean house, flowers in the gardens, and dinner on the table are greater than at any time of my life. Old age has given me the gift of living in the present. I expect and hope that some measure of this continues for the next 15 or 20 years, assuming my longevity matches the family history.
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Another way to respond is to ask - for positive reinforcement:

What do you do now to maintain / develop yourself as you age?
What changes need to happen and what changes have you made?
What gets in your way of shifting with the moments of aging?
What new coping mechanisms have you put in place?
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I'm only 65 but this year reminds me of when I turned 40. Seems like more changes at a faster rate. What I truly miss is the stamina I used to have. I seem to have to pace myself more now. I could run around Saturday, doing all my errands, and not feel a thing. Now I come home tired and sometimes need a nap. I hate that. Perish the thought I would also go see my dad in MC on the same day. Then I am truly spent. I do work out as I have for over 10 years, but Zumba just isn't what it used to be. I used to look at all those older people in the back row (I am proudly in the front row!) and wondered why they moved so slow and didn't jump as high as me. Now I know why. I've told my personal trainer that I don't care about getting stronger or lifting heavier weight. Just keep me from losing what I've got. But I still work full time - at home since Covid - and I'm keeping my mind plenty active.
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For me past injuries seem to reappear. I had strained my back during a long kayak trip in my 30’s and now that I’m 65 it’s resurfaced. I suspect its arthritis creeping in. Makes it difficult to get a good nights sleep.
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Reply to HopeCalmPeace
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My skin.

It feels like slack bread dough!

Also, it's soooo crepe-y!

And, I'm only 58! Gaaaah!
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HopeCalmPeace Nov 2022
Such a great description!!
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I am surprised by the vulnerability that I feel. I once put my 80 something Mom in the car and we embarked on a road trip almost half-way across the country by ourselves to het to her sister and brother-in-law's 75th wedding anniversary celebration. I used to drive long distances by myself as well. Now I feel I don't have the physical strength to change a tire or the ability to be stranded on a hot or cold roadside if the car is disabled. I just feel less able to handle situations now than when I was younger and in good shape physically. I can't run from trouble or fight anyone off.
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lealonnie1 Nov 2022
Which is what makes elders so vulnerable to the scumbuckets: they know we can't run from trouble or fight anyone off :(
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I always knew round was a shape but I did not know how hard it would be to stay in shape at least not the round one. Fitness is almost like a full time job.
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At 63, I'm most surprised at how I've had to let go of most all of my closest family and loved ones. Only my mother, my two children and a few cousins remain.
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Reply to southiebella
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What surprises me is how curious, interested and engaged most of us still are at older ages. When younger, we may have expected "old age" to mean inability to function, but that is usually not so. We may need to move more carefully, make some physical accommodations, pay attention to the task at hand, but we have gained the wisdom and experience to adapt to life's changrs.
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Babs75 Nov 2022
Our local community college offers free tuition for people over 62. You have to take classes as an 'audit' and you can't sign up until the first day of class and only if there is still space available, but I've truly enjoyed learning new stuff.
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there is a scary old woman in my mirror!
my clothes shrink at an alarming rate
my knees don't work the way they should and they make funny noises.

What I appreciate about getting older though...
I forgive more easily, why carry a burden that is unnecessary
I think I appreciate each day more now than I did years ago.
I realize that my Husband was one of a kind and I am glad he knew I felt that way.
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I wasn't prepared for losing so many important people in my life.
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How much I would regret the time I didn't spend being grateful when everything worked right.
I hear my deceased grandmother saying to me.. you r so lucky, you r young.... Now I understand her...being older takes more time to do things
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Why do my knees look like THAT?
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Heavens, aging started in my mid-fifties with thinning bones. At age 58, I suffered a small left ankle fracture from a fall that got healed quickly. My doctor discovered I have osteoporosis so he put me on Fosamax, then Boniva when I was 61. The microscopic colitis and early-stage cataracts hit at age 60. Some mild arthritis of the hips and knees in cold weather or standing in one place too long since about age 63. Now at 67, I am still very active going to a local gym, but I use handrails to assist with climbing or descending stairs I feel is better for my safety. If a stairway has limited or no handrails, the ramp or elevator is my alternate option. I live in a condo, and one of my building's elevators often breaks down, so I call it "the haunted elevator". Needs adjusting or its computerized mechanical parts to fix it. I no longer have running energy, but life is no rush as I am still independent.
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Patathome01 Nov 2022
One more thing: My body temperature is from 96.5F to 97.5F and must wear extra layered clothing in the winter. At below 54F outside, I even use a blanket on top without using the heater all day.
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I'm 83 and what surprises me are all the aches and pains. And how tired I am at the end of the day. But I can still mow the lawn and I can still get myself up if I'm on the floor. And I'm still working.
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A nurse reminded me “These are not the ‘golden years’. They are the rusty years. Things keep rusting away.” And what surprises me every day is looking down at crepey skin on my my hands and realizing there is less time left than I’ve lived.
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I'm surprised to still be alive after my dad, sister, brother, and mom all died. At 74 it takes me so much longer to recover from everything that goes wrong with my body. I fell and have had a mild concussion for 6 months now. One son comes to help me. I don't want to need help, but surprised at how much I actually do need it and so grateful for his help. What's next? It takes so much energy to stay positive.
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It surprised me that I have lived beyond my parent's ages when they died.
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That I could actually learn to play the tuba.
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KaciNC Oct 2023
My hubby became a really good guitarist. He's 69 and started teaching himself how to play about 2.5 years ago.
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I've got all my mom's very expensive lighted magnifiers FF.
My sister bought me one of those magnifying mirrors too but the last thing I want is to see myself that close up 🤣
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freqflyer Nov 2022
cwillie, I thought about buying one of those magnifying mirrors to help me put on make-up, but now that I have some hand tremors, don't believe the eye make up would look good :P
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cwillie, same here regarding my eyes. I use to be able to thread a needle and read the tiny print on anything. After having cataract surgery, all of that changed. Can't wear readers or bi-focals as they make me feel too seasick. Now have to use a magnifying glass.... Carson makes a really nice 3.5" circle magnifying glass, comfortable handle.
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At 66 the thing that surprised me was: "How did I get here so fast?" It seems everything that I'd wanted to do and kept putting off until "later" never materialized and here it is: "later". It's unlikely I'll get do those things, and honestly, I don't even want to do them anymore. I don't seem to be able to retain information the way I used to and my problem solving ability seems to be circling the drain. Just hoping that it's not a sign of imminent dementia. The other thing that sucks about getting old is realizing that though I'm doing my darndest to take care of my 94-year old mom, that there's going to be no one, zippo, zilch to help me out should I reach that age. It's disturbing and depressing.
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Animallovers Nov 2022
At 64 with a 91 yr old mother and no kids I know just how you feel!
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I am 67. I used to be a goodie two shoes when I was young. I was groomed to be a people pleaser by my mother but had had an epiphany a few years ago that I was a sucker. I have decided life is too short and I should do what I want and not let my life be navigated by other peoples’ demands. For the record my 94 year old mother is not happy with me with the decisions I’ve made but I am trying to live my best life now. Being a senior with most of my good years behind me had made me realize there are no do overs. You go around once.
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I agree with Funkygrandmom. I call things like I see it now. I'm only 61. I don't just let things go anymore. Not to say that I flip out every second but if someone is rude or mean to me I call them on it.

It's good to not be someone's doormat.
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The big surprise has been caregiving one after another. When I was a kid, people would die after a brief illness or maybe a longer one, and that was that. Thank goodness I can keep on taking care of my LO! But this is the last one, I swear. I won't be able to do this again.
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southiebella Nov 2022
Same here. Escorting my loved ones through sickness and death has taken its toll and I'm still at it but dream of a day when perhaps I'll be able to stop fretting over someone else's health and can live a peaceful life and sleep all night long.
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Surprised how much physical strength and stamina I've lost, but equally surprised at how much stronger I am emotionally. My motto is "Roll with it, Baby!"
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