Copyright @ 6/4/2009, Dr. Tendai Ndoro (DocNdoro) – Founder, SLIPPA/Brighten The Corner Foundation; CEO EDCTrainers, LLC
Its 2:19am and I can’t sleep so I have to write this note, mostly to myself, but as a way of venting what’s eating me. Otherwise I will start yelling at the innocent.
I just realized I am in for a rude awakening with this thing called getting old. I admit I am very vein about age and oldness. For years I lied about my age (and still do depending on the circumstances), till my daughter could do the math and had the nerve to ask me” Mummy, how old are you really?" "You have been the same age for a while now, and I think at least a daughter should know how old her mummy is." I told her to mind her own business. But it hit me; I had been lying about my age for so long I had not celebrated all the years that went by. So now, I don't lie, I just refuse to say! And any conversations that bring up age, I do not participate in - period.
Truth be told, my looks belies my age...when I was 19 years I looked really mature for my age, but I think it was more in the mannerism...now I look like I am 19years. But truth be told, the secret is my body is reminding me every day that I have clocked some to still be in the teens. I hated the confusion of my 20s, and now love the full blown certainty of my 30s....which have yet to pass.
I used to be a jogger (not a runner), always been a field athlete actually (discus, shot-put, javelin only)...But the other day I went jogging after a very long while and almost killed myself doing 10 laps. By the time I was thru, my tendons hurt, my knee caps were cracking and could hardly get myself back home! I had definitely overdone it. There was an old couple in the park walking around the track field and they watch me with admiration as I zoomed by. We exchanged pleasantries and when the lady said it’s not easy… I chimed "just do it" and sprinted by. Well my 'just do it' almost JUST DID ME IN!!! Now I am humbled, I walk around the track field and have made peace with it.
I used to drive from NJ to Atlanta, no problem, the other day I was telling my cousin who wants me to visit her in NC, "Sorry, I can't even drive to DC". But I am a Mom so if I am to go anyway driving makes the most sense than flying or train or even bus. I don't really care for communal transportation with my kids, but I may have to adjust my preferences!
Please let’s not talk about bed time. I could go for 3 days no sleep and still be razor sharp and functional all that time. But now, even though I am still a semi-insomniac who can't go to bed till 1am, it’s hurting me big time. I wake up in the morning, half tired like I drank a pint of liquor and sore all over as if I have been doing aerobics. I am asking myself...”what happened to my energy?” I could have bottled it and made lots of cash or at least preserved it for now when I need it the most. Only the other day, friends and family who visited used to complain that they just get tired watching me manage my household. The energy was too much for them...I could wake up in the morning, prepare a 5 course breakfast for 10 people; get everyone ready for sight-seeing in the city; come back after 8hrs and prepare dinner and clean up my kitchen before I go to bed... Now, forget it...I have an orientation routine for visitors that come to my house - show you were the fridge, stove, pantry is and then give you the subway map and bus schedule to Manhattan and call it a day. You are on your own!!!!
As for weight control...well let me modify Winnie Mandela's phrase and just say, "Weight control has been the struggle of my life". If I had not struggled as much as I did when I was younger, I hate to imagine what or where I would be now. The struggle continues, but the investments of the past have paid off - otherwise, me and Shamu the whale would be in the same boat!!!
But, I am not going out like that. I am not prepared for this rude awakening. So when I figure it out and I have a plan for agelessness, I will keep you posted!!! In the meantime make sure to moisturize morning, afternoon, and night!
I just realized I am in for a rude awakening with this thing called getting old. I admit I am very vein about age and oldness. For years I lied about my age (and still do depending on the circumstances), till my daughter could do the math and had the nerve to ask me” Mummy, how old are you really?" "You have been the same age for a while now, and I think at least a daughter should know how old her mummy is." I told her to mind her own business. But it hit me; I had been lying about my age for so long I had not celebrated all the years that went by. So now, I don't lie, I just refuse to say! And any conversations that bring up age, I do not participate in - period.
Truth be told, my looks belies my age...when I was 19 years I looked really mature for my age, but I think it was more in the mannerism...now I look like I am 19years. But truth be told, the secret is my body is reminding me every day that I have clocked some to still be in the teens. I hated the confusion of my 20s, and now love the full blown certainty of my 30s....which have yet to pass.
I used to be a jogger (not a runner), always been a field athlete actually (discus, shot-put, javelin only)...But the other day I went jogging after a very long while and almost killed myself doing 10 laps. By the time I was thru, my tendons hurt, my knee caps were cracking and could hardly get myself back home! I had definitely overdone it. There was an old couple in the park walking around the track field and they watch me with admiration as I zoomed by. We exchanged pleasantries and when the lady said it’s not easy… I chimed "just do it" and sprinted by. Well my 'just do it' almost JUST DID ME IN!!! Now I am humbled, I walk around the track field and have made peace with it.
I used to drive from NJ to Atlanta, no problem, the other day I was telling my cousin who wants me to visit her in NC, "Sorry, I can't even drive to DC". But I am a Mom so if I am to go anyway driving makes the most sense than flying or train or even bus. I don't really care for communal transportation with my kids, but I may have to adjust my preferences!
Please let’s not talk about bed time. I could go for 3 days no sleep and still be razor sharp and functional all that time. But now, even though I am still a semi-insomniac who can't go to bed till 1am, it’s hurting me big time. I wake up in the morning, half tired like I drank a pint of liquor and sore all over as if I have been doing aerobics. I am asking myself...”what happened to my energy?” I could have bottled it and made lots of cash or at least preserved it for now when I need it the most. Only the other day, friends and family who visited used to complain that they just get tired watching me manage my household. The energy was too much for them...I could wake up in the morning, prepare a 5 course breakfast for 10 people; get everyone ready for sight-seeing in the city; come back after 8hrs and prepare dinner and clean up my kitchen before I go to bed... Now, forget it...I have an orientation routine for visitors that come to my house - show you were the fridge, stove, pantry is and then give you the subway map and bus schedule to Manhattan and call it a day. You are on your own!!!!
As for weight control...well let me modify Winnie Mandela's phrase and just say, "Weight control has been the struggle of my life". If I had not struggled as much as I did when I was younger, I hate to imagine what or where I would be now. The struggle continues, but the investments of the past have paid off - otherwise, me and Shamu the whale would be in the same boat!!!
But, I am not going out like that. I am not prepared for this rude awakening. So when I figure it out and I have a plan for agelessness, I will keep you posted!!! In the meantime make sure to moisturize morning, afternoon, and night!
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