I think about all the things I used to do effortlessly when I was younger and I wonder that I can’t anymore. I know you young ‘uns out there are saying, “We don’t want to hear about all your aches and pains, ya old coot!” I know. I remember thinking it myself. I also thought I’d never get to this stage. But here I am.
Gone are the days when I didn’t have to struggle to get up off a hardwood floor after sitting on it for ten minutes. Gone is the ability to sleep through the night without waking up with a sore hip; the ability to read things on the tv without glasses, and the ability to do the splits…
There’s a message in some of this for you kids out there. The message is, don’t stop. If you can do the splits now, or touch your toes without bending your knees, or run half a mile, or multiply large numbers in your head, keep it up! It’s when we stop because we no longer need to do it that we lose it. Age has little to do with some of the things I find difficult.
But you know what? It’s not all that bad. There are things I CAN do now that I couldn’t do before. Like write a story or a blog post, or even a novel and put it out there for the world to see without caring what anyone thinks. Or like effortlessly sing all the low notes that used to hurt my throat to even try. Hell, I can even sing in front of people now. It used to be that I wouldn’t sing in a house when I was on my own, unless I was singing to something playing on the stereo.
It’s not all bad, getting older. Then again. I’m not THAT old.
This “Effortless” prompt is brought to you by Dan Antion at No Facilities. If you don’t already follow him, please check out his blog!
To find the rules for Just Jot It January, click here and join in today. It’s never too late! And don’t forget to ping back your January 11th post here!
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January 12, 2016 at 1:33 pm
What a great post. Hope all the young ‘un’s listen to your good advice 🙂
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January 12, 2016 at 2:36 pm
Thanks, Bee! But they never listen, do they? 😉
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January 12, 2016 at 3:18 pm
No they don’t but at least you tried 🙂
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January 12, 2016 at 1:12 am
I decided to join Helen’s Song Lyrics Sunday, and then heard the news about David Bowie’s death. I couldn’t not write something about him, so followed your fictional blog’s cue, and used effortless to describe his wonderful chameleonness. I shall forever be a spider from mars.
“I have the perfect video (song and lyrics) to go with your effortless post. I’ll try and post it soon,” she added.
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January 12, 2016 at 10:50 am
I’ll look for the video – thanks, my dear.
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January 11, 2016 at 10:51 pm
http://rhymeswithbug.com/2016/01/11/effortlessly/
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January 11, 2016 at 5:22 pm
I really did an effortless post today. Charles Yallowitz was a guest.http://wp.me/p2Qoij-1Wi
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January 11, 2016 at 5:26 pm
hehe. I think that might be cheating, John. 😉
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January 11, 2016 at 5:51 pm
Aw. Dabblammit
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January 11, 2016 at 6:06 pm
😉
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January 11, 2016 at 12:16 pm
http://finallyawriter.com/2016/01/11/just-jot-it-january-11th-writing/
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January 11, 2016 at 12:03 pm
All so true! I try to tell my kids but they think it will never happen to them.
http://www.fiddledeedeebooks.wordpress.com
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January 11, 2016 at 4:59 pm
Yep. 😛
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January 11, 2016 at 9:26 am
Linda -I so enjoyed this entry, and I relate to it. Here’s a poem I wrote three years ago on the same topic:
What a wonderful thing
What a wonderful thing, to be able to
Stride surely down the linoleum hall
Down the green tiles, soundlessly in
My trainers, that’s what they call them in England.
Thick soles bounding confidently along, soundless,
More quiet than bare feet, they are.
At 64, I revel in my ability to stride
Stride without a break, quickly , evenly confidently
Down the hall, not short of breath, not limping,
Not walking slowly, stiffly, tottering like a zombie
With my chemo brain and radiation charred bowels
Walking like a twenty-year old.
When the twenty year olds take their stride for granted.
Hold that space
I’m coming to sit there
By your side at the lunch table
Where I can watch you unwrap
Your tuna sandwich
With the white bread mushy and soaked
With tuna juice
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January 11, 2016 at 5:11 pm
Nice poem. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
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January 11, 2016 at 5:50 am
Man I’m still young and I can relate to this so much. I can hardly stay up late anymore or even function in the morning without coffee. My feet hurt if I use them too much. I cant read too long in one position or I catch a cramp.
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January 15, 2016 at 11:03 am
I think it hits everyone at a different stage in life. Just keep the oxygen flowing!
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January 11, 2016 at 5:14 am
https://cornerofconfessions.wordpress.com/2016/01/11/effortless-just-jot-it-jan-11th/
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January 11, 2016 at 4:07 am
Well, I never could do those bouncy things like cartwheels. But I’ve been doing yoga for the last five years and it turns out I’m fairly flexible. So although I’ve never managed a handstand, I can do shoulder balance. I’m also quite good at plank pose, just balance on the boobs – it’s all about the straightness of back you see; if I were to get those off the floor that would be a different pose ;-D
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January 15, 2016 at 11:04 am
Haha! Yeah, it’s amazing how body parts can get in the way of things. I’d love to try yoga sometime!
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January 11, 2016 at 3:58 am
You and I are on a very similar wavelength today Linda!! I can totally relate to your post. I used to be able to do a cartwheel when I was younger but would probably put my back out if I tried it now! 🙂
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January 21, 2016 at 10:44 am
Haha! Yeah, I’d probably break my neck. 😛
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January 11, 2016 at 3:42 am
Ah now Linda, as I said to Edwina in her post, we’re growing up, not old 🙂
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January 21, 2016 at 10:44 am
Yeah, that’s the ticket! 🙂
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January 11, 2016 at 2:25 am
Did you just say splits? That is one thing I have never been able to do. But I do hear you…and I will try not to stop for as long as I can keep going.
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January 21, 2016 at 10:46 am
Yes, I could actually do the splits right up until I quit karate, when I was 44. 😛
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January 21, 2016 at 11:06 am
Woah! Hats off to you!
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January 21, 2016 at 11:17 am
The hat is firmly in place since then. 😛 Haha.
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January 21, 2016 at 11:28 am
🙂
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