Exercise for the Future

When I was in college I got a minor in Gerontology which included several classes on aging and required an internship. I realize this is a totally random minor or even interest to have, but I have to say, I fell in love with the old people I was around. They were so inspiring and I found myself wanting to be like them. I went to several gerontology conferences and volunteered at the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George. There are some incredible senior athletes out there. One of them (who doesn't compete) is my and Em's Grandma. She is 81 years old and exercises nearly everyday and is fit as a fiddle. She was in town visiting this last week and came over yesterday to play with my babies while I cleaned. She took my oldest, who isn't even 2, outside and when I looked out the window they were both sitting on the trampoline. What 81 year old gets on a trampoline??? After they were up there for an hour (she wasn't jumping the whole time...) I went to get them for lunch and was holding both my kids when I realized Grandma might need help down. Nope. She hopped off and rolled on the ground and got up, brushing the leaves off. No big deal.



WAIT- that is a big deal. I walked in telling Ellie how lucky she was to have a great-grandma who gets on the trampoline with her, and Grandma said, "I feel so lucky to be able to play with my great-grandkids".



To sum this story up, people may age, but they don't just wake up one day not able to get out of their chairs. If you're active while you're young, you can age and stay active and still enjoy all the beautiful things life has to offer. There's a saying one of my teachers always said about muscles, "You use them or lose them." Start now living healthily and being active and building your muscles so that you can do the things you love when you're old. Being active now, at whatever age you are, is an investment that will undoubtedly pay off in innumerable ways.



Bek