When Time and Terrain Collide: choose your battles and cultivate wellness
Near the top of Whistler Mountain, British Columbia, Canada. (Graphic by author)
As I hiked the steep inclines of Whistler, British Columbia, my lungs burned, and frustration set in.
Why couldn't I climb mountains as effortlessly as before?
It's a sobering realization when our bodies begin to show the wear and tear of time, but it's a realization we all face one day.
Watching my mother and other loved ones face the challenges that accompany time is even harder. Hair thins, skin bruises easily, joints fail, and falls become perilous. Memory and speech lag, diminishing their independence.
Yet, as I travel across the United States and Canada, I encounter countless older individuals, or AGEnts, as Janine Vanderburg calls them, brimming with life and vigor. They are at libraries gathering wisdom, carrying baskets of fresh veggies to neighbors, and even taking Smithsonian cruises to Japan to sail their boats. They are walking the streets on volunteer missions, meeting in committees to foster change, and starting new businesses. The opportunities for a vibrant life often become a brand new stage as their choices broaden with time and accumulated prosperity. Yes, their bodies reflect the changes that come with time, but with children who have left the nest and careers at a crossroads, they are actively pursuing new beginnings.
(images from Canva, curated by the author)
Time reflects what is most important in life
I no longer take time for granted, nor do I take my body and mind for granted. I climb mindfully and am more grateful than ever for my body’s quality and durability.
I have taken good care of it, mostly.
Life can be demanding and harsh. Chronic stress from careers, parenting, toxic relationships, and the tendency to self-sacrifice take a toll on our bodies, minds, and souls. Priorities get skewed.
I have not always been a good steward of my battle suit.
Some of my battle scars are permanent. They pull at my flexibility, and the memories of failures and injuries trigger caution.
I am more thoughtful about the wars I let myself be drawn into. It is, and always was, a choice. I do not regret fighting essential battles for my children, but I do regret not fighting harder for my own safety. I threw myself into battles without enough care for my armor, sacrificing my safety and wellbeing for others who cared little for mine.
I came to realize the importance of surrounding myself with those who value my time and presence, whether family, mentors, companions, or friends. I not only recognize the value of fighting for my own wellbeing, but I am also insisting on it (finally).
This mindset is essential for the journey ahead, whether I traverse peaks, descend valleys, or cross broad, verdant fields. Our journeys will cross deserts, face threats of fire, and feel barren at times. This is part of our complete landscape.
We Actively (or Passively) Choose our Way
We largely choose our path—whether it's a steep mountain trail or a shaded forest glen. We choose our level of fitness to travel it, and we choose who we journey with, making it either worthwhile or treacherous. Sacrificing and enduring damage kills heroes (and sheroes).
I choose to be a better steward of my mind, body, and soul, journeying with an appreciation for life and treating myself with the respect I deserve.
How about you?
(image credit-Neeli Clute, graphic created in Canva
The arenas of stewardship that matter most and feed your mind, body, and soul are
what you consume
how you spend your time
So here’s some food for thought:
What can you do in five minutes to nourish your MIND?
In five minutes to invigorate your BODY?
In five minutes to uplift your SOUL?