This morning I went swimming. Got up at 5:30 and was at the pool at 6:00. It was my first time swimming for exercise in probably 25 years. I swam for 20 minutes then got dizzy and nauseous so had to stop. This is harder than I remember it. Then again I’m 25 years older so everything’s a little bit harder than it used to be.
It was nice though. I got to see an old friend and make a couple of new ones. I plan on going again tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll last longer. And the more I do it the longer I’ll last on this world.
I don’t know about anyone else my age, but mentally it’s not computing that I’m at mid-life. I still feel like I should be able to do things that I could do 20 years ago. And in some ways I can do more than I could then. I remember as a kid going hiking and getting tired after 1-2 miles. Now I can hike all day and am planning a 104 mile 7-day hike in just a few weeks. On the other hand, I used to be able to swim all day (grew up in Florida) and now I can’t handle but 20 minutes.
Things change over time. You get better at some skills while other skills fall by the wayside. But I don’t feel bad about it. I’ve learned that this is true: You always find time to do the things that are important to you.