05/07/2019

Working as a physical therapist assistant with the #geriatric community (65+) taught me SO much. It was the first time that I had ever spent an extended period of time with this age group- -
I can’t tell you the amount of #wisdom and #perspective I’ve GAINED from instructing, engaging and most importantly LISTENING to this specific population-
But some lessons stood out to me-
One of them being,
“I could be 85 and still “be working on and/or worrying about losing weight?”
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You see, when you’re in the hospital, you get weighed every day-
this is done b/c while you are recovering from whatever ailment you are THERE for- it’s important that you do NOT LOSE too much weight-
So, when someone drops 10 pounds in less than a week- it’s NOT something to be excited about. -
I can’t tell you how many times I heard women (this age) speak about their weight and weight loss-
And then there was the excitement that CAME with the number on the scale dropping!
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The perspective that it gave me was mind shifting-
“Wait- you mean I could be 85 years old--and STILL NOT have this whole thing figured out? You mean I could be into the 9th decade of my life and still be measuring, counting and worrying about my reflection in the mirror?
You mean to tell me this crap NEVER changes?-EFF THAT MESS!”
It was something that I observed that shifted the way I view movement and the LONGEVITY of it. -
If I even SEE my 85th birthday cake, It will be 55 years FROM THIS point (almost DOUBLE) what I am today!
55 years! I can’t even conceptualize almost TWICE what I’ve already lived-
Learning to trust my body and begin to listen to its’ cues has been the greatest gift and most eye opening experience of what I was AVOIDING by dieting (ie. emotional dark roads too scary to walk alone) -
Honestly, I’m not really sure as to the point of this story, It just made me realize that I wanted something different, something where I didn’t have to count, measure and focus all the gosh darn time about what I eating. B/c if I DO make it to my 85th birthday- you better believe that I will be doing the most ultimate cake smash in history!
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What are some Life lessons you’ve learned from the wise older folks? 😁