What is so potent about this, Ann, is that the notion that we simply MUST give our bodies permission to change, shift, and begin to deteriorate is terrifying.

Fucking goddamned TERRIFYING.

I was laughing yesterday at the lineup of all the medical devices I have around the house from my many, many injuries. Thumb splints, back brace, big boot, a breathing device to expand my lungs, slings….

God DAMN. I am fucking ROUGH on my body. This isn’t disease. This isn’t deterioration. This is what I visited on myself doing what I love.

And on top of that, because I am in forced rest at the moment, I notice those areas of my body which don’t have the same strength because I haven’t been able to work them.

Some of these things are negotiable.

Some aren’t. As I get ready for my Next Big Adventure, part of me is curious about what’s now available. This last trip I couldn’t lift the huge, uber heavy saddles onto my horse because rotator cuff surgery has prevented me from doing a specific exercise. Is that recoverable? I have no idea. I’m working on it.

Perhaps the greatest wisdom is to learn to accept that our new Baseline, which is shifting all the time, is what it is. We push at it, inquire of it, negotiate with it.

You and don’t have to be super geezers.

As we press forward into that uncertain future, the best we can do is our best, and find the funny in how Mama Nature has decided to play with us. Our bodies. Our hearts and souls.