How shall I use that time? Clean the bathroom (it really does need doing). Nah, stuff that. Hoover the bedroom? Well, that means disturbing the cat so maybe not. Candy Crush then! Nope, gone off that...been stuck on Level 94 for a week and now officially bored.
OK, I think I'll download some music into my 'Feelgood' folder on the laptop. That's always a nice thing to do while no-one's in. I can't get moaned at then.
This is what's going in my folder....
**********
I wrote the above around 10.30am and its now 2.30pm. While the music was downloading I decided to go for a walk to the newsagents at the other end of the village. My lovely follower, author Carole E Wyer hinted that 'someone we know' was on page 27 of this weeks Take a Break. I enjoy reading anything that Carol writes, and can highly recommend her as a good read. So, incentive enough to get bundled up in my winter jacket, strap up my foot and get my trainers on. It's still sunny as I write and I have to say my waddle up to the shop was lovely. Being out in the fresh air, feeling the wind ruffling my hair and whipping hell out of my skin, but all was good. For a while.
As I set off I almost skipped down my road as the strapping on my foot was holding it nicely in place. The pain was minimal and I figured I'd make the 1 mile round walk with no bother. Hmm, how wrong could I be? I made it to the crossing when I felt my hip starting to hurt. "It'll go off" I thought as I trundled along past the playing fields. The sun was behind me at this point and I noticed my shadow. If I didn't know differently, I'd have said that shadow belonged to someone else. Some decrepit old biddy who walked like she'd got one leg shorter than the other! I monitored my walk all the way. If I stopped for a moment 'to take in the view' (a rest stop if you must know), the pain subsided a little and I could set off pain free and walking almost normally. However, it took less than 30 seconds for the little fecker to kick in which meant my stops became more frequent as I neared the shop. I wished for someone to come along who I knew so I could stop (and rest) for a minute or two to say hello and have a quick catch up. That didn't happen today, so I had to rely on loitering on the edge of the pavement waiting for traffic to pass.
Strangely in all of this, my foot didn't give me any grief. It was all hip related. I shall be explaining all of this to the consultant when I see him on the 21st of this month. I had an assessment with a sports massage lady at work who suggested that my hip problem may not be in the joint. She feels it might well be something divinely named Tensor Fasciia Latae (nothing to do with Fascias and Soffits. And definitely not Starbucks related either). It's something that runs from the hip down the outside of the thigh and stops by the knee. It's been impacted by the way I walk which directly stems from my foot. My gait is so uneven that I feel unable to stride out with my right leg.
Right I've done moaning now. The grumps are gone. Husband still not back so a bit more free time for the moment. Maybe I ought to show the bathroom a cloth and some spray bleach. Or shall I go wave a duster round the bedroom? Oh, the cat's still in there though. I won't disturb her.
Happy Sunday!!!!!
As you age, you might be tempted to overdo the makeup to emulate a more youthful appearance. But there’s nothing attractive about cakey foundation or spidery lashes. Makeup should only enhance your natural beauty not mask it. Mireille Guiliano, the author of “French Women Don’t Get Facelifts” stresses the importance of keeping your makeup clean and natural. “Stop trying to dress like your daughter or younger self … go lighter on the makeup.”
High blood pressure is one of many conditions whose likelihood increases with age. In fact, nearly two-thirds of Americans over 60 have high blood pressure according to the NIH. A high sodium diet is a trigger. And since aging gracefully isn’t just about your outside, we want to keep our insides healthy as well.
“I stay away from negative people, places and things. I always look positive, and am thankful for what I have,” centenarian Daisy McFadden told Forbes. But don’t just take Daisy’s word for it. Numerous studies have shown that positive people are less prone to mental decline and lead happier lives.
Getting a little too comfortable on the couch is unhealthy at any age, but particularly as you get older. Not only will valuable time slip right through your fingers and before your eyes, but you may be shortening your life. An Australian study found that for every hour of TV watched after age 25, people lose 22 minutes from their life expectancy. If that wasn’t bad enough, watching TV makes you vulnerable to several other aging pitfalls like a sedentary lifestyle and social isolation.
Life will always have its stresses, from family to work to finances. It’s unavoidable and can cause a barrage of health problems like sleeplessness, depression, and heart disease. Some studies suggest stress can make you appear up to 10 years older. But people aging gracefully have learned to manage their stress. Whether it’s meditation, exercise, or just taking a couple minutes for yourself everyday to unplug from technology and walk away from your desk, it’s highly beneficial for your insides and outsides to learn to tame your stress.
Sure you should live a little and enjoy the occasional indulgence. But moderation is key in aging gracefully. For some people smoking cigarettes regularly turns skin leathery. Whatever your vice may be, whether it’s alcohol, fatty foods, sweets, or even soda, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Eating a high fat diet, consuming excess sugar, and not getting enough exercise are all culprits. A poor diet can also increase free radicals in your body, which can damage your DNA and age you.