There Is More to Aging than the Physical

 

This blog entry is in lieu of an entry entry in the Aging Project series. In the last entry in that series I wrote pretty much only about the physical side of things. But there is much more to graceful, what I would call successful, aging than that,

Many friends who were a lot younger than me have already departed the planet. Often, it is true, there was a proximate cause that was physical. Too often, it had to do with substance abuse (usually alcohol). But I think we need to look more deeply than that.

When my wife, Sandy, passed away last January, at the age of 83-1/2, she had a host of physical ailments. She had had two bouts of breast cancer, along with two breast surgeries and two courses of chemo treatments, which took a lot out of her. She also had COPD, from smoking for many years. When we went to the US Tennis Open in 2022, the trip almost killed her (she developed a blood clot on her lung). She had an artificial hip and two artificial knees, and wore hearing aids. And she had recently been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. But I've never known anyone with a stronger spirit, or a brighter smile. She loved people, and that's where she got her energy. She was a strong and positive person, which is why she made it to the age she did.

I am two years younger than Sandy would be if she were still physically with us.I have been very fortunate when it comes to physical health. I have no joint replacements, and I take no medications. Unlike Sandy, I get me energy from books and ideas. This means that I am extremely active mentally, and have many interests. I know that some people, especially men, have a problem with retirement, but I never have had one. I've been retired for twenty years, I love it, and I'm never bored. That's the mental side of things.

And then there is the spiritual side of things. Sandy was a positive person and a shining light. She loved everybody, and brought healing rather than division. It isn't always easy, but I am trying to follow her example.

Text and image Copyright © 2024 by Donald C. Traxler aka Donald Jacobson Traxler.