Musings on being 43

[duriyah]

I started writing an entry about how this was the year I first really started feeling my age, then I looked back and found I wrote the same thing last year. Heh.

BodyLast year I noted that I could no longer stay out late, but had to make sure to be in bed at a reasonable hour. That's still true, and I have so easily integrated an consistently

Comments

[brighidh]

Happy Birthday !! This was cool to read, btw! :)

[duriyah]

Thank you! I found it an interesting exercise. It was good to look back at what I was dealing with last year, and find that I am now managing those issues for the most part. It made me feel more positive about my current challenges!

[kanzeon_2040]

An interesting self-inventory. I do spend more time and energy managing my body & emotions in my 40s, but so far this management means my body and mind feel better than they did during my 20s and much of my 30s. I suppose the real decline will come when my management skills are outmatched by my the growing list of chronic ailments.

For example, my asthma is less of a problem today than it was before my asthma diagnosis 7 years ago, but I have to spend more effort tracking and treating it. I'm able to run marathons now, but only by devoting a great deal of my "free time" to training, stretching, and watching what I eat. My emotions are more stable than they were for most of my life, but only because I've worked hard to understand my triggers so I can rigorously avoid a lot of them.

[duriyah]

I think I also, on balance, spend more time managing my health than I did in my 20's and 30's. But I find a lot of it more enjoyable and easier. I traded weekly (or twice-monthly) therapy sessions for weekly meditation sessions. Meditation and breathwork take a whole lot less energy than talk therapy

P.S.

[duriyah]

Forgot to say I hope you get to feeling better today!

[the_shampoo]

Depression is still an issue for me, but I have people in my life that understand me and can help me get through those periods, and can even tell me when I'm there before I know myself.
My anxiety has gotten better over the last several years. I seldom have nightmares now, and fewer panic attacks. When I have a panic attack, I know what it is, and can find a way to cope.
Food issues are not really under control, but they aren't ruling and ruining my life anymore.
Asthma is the best its been since I was diagnosed at 9. The most likely reason is that I know my triggers and have a fast response time. I know exactly what works and always have an inhaler and allergy meds handy. Avoiding allergens has let me avoid the emergency room for a few years now, and I even seem to be able to tolerate minimal exposure to dogs and cats now.
Moving forward is good, even if its slower than you want.

[duriyah]

Sounds like you are doing well and making progress! It's especially good to hear your allergies are doing better!

Moving forward is good, even if its slower than you want.

Amen to that!

[cybrgrl]

Hear hear! My body symptoms are right there with yours, except the arthritis is in my neck. My mind is doing OK, though fraught with senior moments - I've had them all my adult life, so they're status quo. My spirit says "yippee!".

Anyway, congratulations on another year! Life is well worth living.