Back in the spring of 1973, my friend Tom introduced me to lifting weights. He showed me a handful of dumbbell exercises and told me that I should do them everyday. My older brother had an unused weight set, so I set up the dumbbells to a weight that I could handle, and I was underway.
Since that time so many years ago, I have continued to lift weights. I actually competed for several years in Olympic-style lifting and did reasonably well. Throughout the years, I have tried a variety of routines and exercises, machines, free-weights, vitamins etc, etc, etc.
I never looked like a weightlifter. At the peak of my competing years, I told a young lady that I was a weightlifter and she laughed in my face. Apparently, appearances can be deceiving.
As I have aged there is much less emphasis on pushing hard to achieve maximum performance. The no-pain/no gain approach has changed to no-pain is good…even a goal to be achieved.
I have also noticed that there are not many seasoned lifters left in the gym. I look around and all I see is a bunch of people about the age of my children. Only rarely do I see another person near my age, and it has been years since I saw someone older than myself lifting in the free-weight room.
I still enjoy it and plan to continue for as long as my body holds up. I may not train as hard, or lift as much, but I still think of myself as a weightlifter.
Even if I look even less like one now.
Dodgeball at 50?
October 3, 2011I used to be pretty good at dodge-ball. I was reasonably quick and agile in my youth. This past weekend I attended a Chi Alpha Iowa retreat. One of the events on Friday night was black-light dodge-ball. I was a little hesitant because I was concerned that it might not be a good idea for a 50-something to play dodge-ball with college kids.
I shouldn’t have been worried about it.
My reflexes have slowed down considerably since I last played. I was eliminated very early. Hey, at least the only injury suffered, was to my pride.
I have begun to think that it might be time to ease off the throttle in other areas of my life as well. That slowing down, just a little, might be a good idea. This means that I will have to trust that God will give me wisdom as to what is important, that I will use my time and energy on the things that really matter.
Hopefully, along with the gray hairs, and the slower reflexes, will come the necessary wisdom to live the life that God has intended for me.
Tags:aging, all, Chi Alpha, commentary, dodgeball, health, Life, quality of life, serving God, thoughts
Posted in Life | Leave a Comment »