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Never Too Old To Improve

Basketball goal at a YMCA

“I Can’t Do That Anymore!”

Ever watched someone doing something and thought, “I can’t do that” or “I can’t do that anymore.” Unfortunately, age seems to make “I can’t anymore” a readily available excuse for not trying. And, before you jump on me about trying to do something that can get you hurt (i.e., backflips off a 50m ledge into a river), I am not talking about doing the insane. I am talking about doing squats, running, playing sports, and getting stronger, in other words, getting fit.

 I’m not sure how often I have said, “when I was younger, I could…, but I can’t anymore,” or “ I am too old to…now.” But, of course, I have justification for my apprehension. I tore an Achilles tendon when I was 28 playing softball, and I have strained about every leg muscle possible trying to run. Sound familiar? I am sure I’m not the only one who has slowed down because hurting is no fun! However, I have learned that I don’t have to give up living because I am getting old. 

Here’s the deal, friends, my injuries were not a direct result of aging. Instead, they were the outcomes of being deconditioned, and I did not know it until recently. 

About four years ago, I started functional fitness, i.e., CrossFitting, and it has opened my eyes to the possibilities of my newfound physical capabilities. 

Over the last few years, I am amazed at how many times I discovered I could do something I thought I was too old to do. For example, I have run a 5k and a 10k. I know; running these distances may not seem like a remarkable feat, but they are meaningful to me. You see, I could barely run over a mile without my knees screaming at me. I believed I couldn’t complete a 5k because of old arthritic knees, but then one day, I did. It wasn’t my knees holding me back. It was the belief I was too old to improve.

Another example is playing basketball. I thought my days on the court were long past me. There was no way my legs could hold up to cutting, running, and jumping, and I was envious of all the old guys that could. Then one day, I picked up the basketball and started to play in a pick-up game. Amazingly, I could cut, run, jump, and play without fear of going to an early grave.

Why am I telling you this? It’s not because I want to shout my exploits from the top of the roof with a “hey, look at me now” attitude. I simply want to point out the fact that if I can do it, so can you. No excuses! No more “I am too old.” Get out and live life. Prepare yourself physically and do what you want to do.

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