when life changes how do you adapt

[Marathoner]

4 hours ago, Ghostdog said:

im at a point in my life where i cant do the things i once use to. i dont have the staminia or the strength i once had when i was younger. most days i feel lost when it come to finding work cause most of my previous jobs required physical labour. i can do a day or two of labour jobs but then i need a few days to rest and recover. i get annoyed with myself when i cant do something i know i use to be able to do but cant now.

I've been there. It was tough coping with that when I became sick. My adopted mother could rely on me because out of all the kinds of work we can do, heavy labor was my favorite. When I was homeless for many years and wandered from place to place, I'd head straight to a day labor outfit and stand in line. That was one way to become known by local contractors looking for reliable workers. 

Nothing can compare to working alongside brothers tackling hard work. The Lord blessed me in such a way more than once.

I loved working in the mountains under the New Mexico sun. I tackled the plumbing on her land, bringing water into her greenhouse so my mother's dream of growing her own produce would become a reality. We accomplished many things up there in the high desert, but it all came to an end when illness robbed my strength and stamina, making me progressively weaker until I was bedridden. 

Yes, the Lord raised me up and healed this body as it pleased Him but some afflictions remained, a reminder of those years when I withered away and was good as dead.

After I passed 50, a rare type of muscular dystrophy started emerging. This type of MD doesn't appear until middle age and in addition to affecting my eyes and throat, it afflicted my legs. My legs were so weak, a little doctor at the VA was able to exert more force than they could withstand with just one hand.

Not long ago (I wrote about this on the forum), the Lord saw fit to restore the muscles in my legs. I woke up one morning to find them restored to how they were years ago. I put them to the test by running up and down the stairs in my apartment building!

However, at this point in time, the Lord doesn't require me to work heavy labor. I'll say this... I'd rather dig post holes or frame a house than act as a mediator between roommates here at the homeless shelter where I work.

I miss construction work most of all.

[Sower]

7 hours ago, Ghostdog said:

im at a point in my life where i cant do the things i once use to.

I can understand that, as I'm limited and slower now. But though I have contemplated retirement now that I'm 75 yrs, read the scriptures that say enjoy the fruits of my labor, I still know I will decline health wise unless I do some workouts to stay fit. Figured if I have to do exercises I might as well get paid to work.  The less I work, the more I gain weight and become lazy/lethargic, but the steady work keeps weight down, and I feel way more fit, in body and mind. And the income is a nice incentive when it comes time to pay our taxes. I am blessed to be able to work, so I do. My wife at 73yrs also has her own business in my our shop.

My 401K is my shop, just steps from my home. I construct commercial machine cabinet enclosures. I have set up my shop so I can do my work economically, reducing movement and lifting, conserving energy output. I work at my own pace as long as I stay ahead of purchase orders. I keep enough inventory ready to be able to take my wife to the  coast and do some fishing/shopping vacations when ever we want. The work I do requires meticulous layout details and keeps my mind sharp and active. I work with a lot of serious cutting tools, yet after 50 yrs in the trades,  still have ten fingers..(Thank you Lord) Then there's the kids and grand kids that can also wear us out, but that's the best kind. Use it or lose it is a saying that is wisdom.

Work is the best narcotic...

 

[ladypeartree]

praying for you my brother    

[Space_Karen]

9 hours ago, ayin jade said:

Not always

 

Fasting definitely helps.

 

[Starise]

I worked very physically demanding jobs until fairly recently. Right about the same time I was moved into a desk job I had some health issues which are ongoing even though presently none of them are keeping me from being active and doing what I would like to do.

I have often wondered if The Lord put me here to protect me in some way. I don't feel especially limited right now. I was beginning to gain weight, so I changed what I eat which has helped my overall health and has helped me to loose weight. I get bored silly at this job and then I feel guilty I don't like the job more. I don't think I could perform  like a 20 year old, but I do feel capable to do plenty physically. I feel I am at an impasse.

I have prayed about moving to something more stimulating, but in only a short time I'll be able to qualify for retirement. I had thought maybe I would retire from this and continue to work at something where I don't necessarily need the money. I could do almost ANYTHING and get more exercise than I do now. I know that due to boredom I'm not giving my employer 100%. I have had several co workers tell me they could not do my job due to being sedate for so long, and I'll admit it gets to me. I am thankful to have a decent job but I'm not sure how much longer I can do this and not go completely nuts. 

Last evening I was clearing leaves and my Amish neighbor who is in his 20's came over and offered to help me, so I let him help and thanked him, but part of me wondered why he thought I needed help? Do I look like I need help?  I am not used to getting help of any kind. I'll admit, a part of me bucked internally at taking help, even though I appreciated his offer. 

To me, it almost seem like God has me on the lite plan for some reason. He sends people to help me clear leaves and gives me a job where I never strain myself. I can't quite figure it out.

[Sower]

21 hours ago, Starise said:

I worked very physically demanding jobs until fairly recently. Right about the same time I was moved into a desk job I had some health issues which are ongoing even though presently none of them are keeping me from being active and doing what I would like to do.

I have often wondered if The Lord put me here to protect me in some way. I don't feel especially limited right now. I was beginning to gain weight, so I changed what I eat which has helped my overall health and has helped me to loose weight. I get bored silly at this job and then I feel guilty I don't like the job more. I don't think I could perform  like a 20 year old, but I do feel capable to do plenty physically. I feel I am at an impasse.

I have prayed about moving to something more stimulating, but in only a short time I'll be able to qualify for retirement. I had thought maybe I would retire from this and continue to work at something where I don't necessarily need the money. I could do almost ANYTHING and get more exercise than I do now. I know that due to boredom I'm not giving my employer 100%. I have had several co workers tell me they could not do my job due to being sedate for so long, and I'll admit it gets to me. I am thankful to have a decent job but I'm not sure how much longer I can do this and not go completely nuts. 

Last evening I was clearing leaves and my Amish neighbor who is in his 20's came over and offered to help me, so I let him help and thanked him, but part of me wondered why he thought I needed help? Do I look like I need help?  I am not used to getting help of any kind. I'll admit, a part of me bucked internally at taking help, even though I appreciated his offer. 

To me, it almost seem like God has me on the lite plan for some reason. He sends people to help me clear leaves and gives me a job where I never strain myself. I can't quite figure it out.

I remember an old saying about not looking a gift horse in the mouth.....

Nothing is preventing you from doing a couple of dozen ea table push ups, squats, toe touches, jumping jacks,  dumb bell curls, ea arm. Really quick, ramps up the heart and lungs to get the pulse rising. Just ten minute work out, a few times a day. You'll be amazed how much better you will feel.


"From 2015 to 2019, 6.8% of Americans 75 or older were in the workforce, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Archival data show that rate has been growing, as it stood at 6.6% from 2014 to 2018, and 5.9% from 2009 to 2013.Dec 11, 2020"

 

 

 

 

 

[Marathoner]

Indeed. There's the Farmer's Workout which is my personal favorite.

You start with a newborn calf. Lift that calf and put them on the other side of a fence. Do this several times a day...

Before you know it, you're lifting a 1,000 pound steer! 

You're welcome. 

[ladypeartree]

On 11/4/2022 at 6:44 PM, Starise said:

I worked very physically demanding jobs until fairly recently. Right about the same time I was moved into a desk job I had some health issues which are ongoing even though presently none of them are keeping me from being active and doing what I would like to do.

I have often wondered if The Lord put me here to protect me in some way. I don't feel especially limited right now. I was beginning to gain weight, so I changed what I eat which has helped my overall health and has helped me to loose weight. I get bored silly at this job and then I feel guilty I don't like the job more. I don't think I could perform  like a 20 year old, but I do feel capable to do plenty physically. I feel I am at an impasse.

I have prayed about moving to something more stimulating, but in only a short time I'll be able to qualify for retirement. I had thought maybe I would retire from this and continue to work at something where I don't necessarily need the money. I could do almost ANYTHING and get more exercise than I do now. I know that due to boredom I'm not giving my employer 100%. I have had several co workers tell me they could not do my job due to being sedate for so long, and I'll admit it gets to me. I am thankful to have a decent job but I'm not sure how much longer I can do this and not go completely nuts. 

Last evening I was clearing leaves and my Amish neighbor who is in his 20's came over and offered to help me, so I let him help and thanked him, but part of me wondered why he thought I needed help? Do I look like I need help?  I am not used to getting help of any kind. I'll admit, a part of me bucked internally at taking help, even though I appreciated his offer. 

To me, it almost seem like God has me on the lite plan for some reason. He sends people to help me clear leaves and gives me a job where I never strain myself. I can't quite figure it out.

There is a saying that it is better to give than to receive  and that is sooo true mainly because it hurts our pride to receive including help . It is NOT a reflection on how you may appear as in getting old or feeble it is more a reward / payback for the things you have done to help others so say thank you grit your teeth and know that you are loved ( and I will try to do the same  )

[Starise]

I ended up getting a really good leaf blower. The leaves are still everywhere. A good blower saves lots of time and raking.

He offered to let me use his blower but I was afraid I would break it, so I bit the bullet and bought one. I was also thinking of my health in the future.

 

[Ghostdog]

a lot of people where i live use a leaf blower instead of shoving snow and it looks much easier