Karla’s Korner: My Journey Into “Maturity” Also Known as Old Age

I am proud to introduce a new column to Madame Deals! I think we all need a touch point a place we can go to be inspired. Karla is my children’s teacher, a good friend, and a person with a heart of gold. I hope that her words will inspire you to do more. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with. It is important to listen with your heart and proceed with your eyes open. Enjoy!

My Journey Into “Maturity” Also Known as Old Age…

As I sit down to write this my left leg is completely wrapped in a knee immobilizer and my knee is throbbing a bit. Two weeks ago I went to the outpatient care emergency room with severe knee pain that was hindering my ability to walk and
sleep. At the ripe old age of 44 I have been given a diagnosis of osteoarthritis. As I hobbled out of the building and climbed back into the car (which by the way is no easy task when your leg is out of commission) I realized that this is just the beginning of my journey into “maturity”. In the past I have been able to cover up or disguise some of the earlier signs like gray hair and wrinkles. Those you can cover up and pretend they do not exist, however, bum knees cannot be hidden; the hobble gives it away.

Out of shape and overweight for many years I have tried to get back on track to better health. I find success for a while and then allow myself to fall back into the rut of poor eating and little to no exercise. I only have myself to blame for my health issues so there will be no finger pointing unless I am looking into a mirror. I refuse to sit on the pity pot and feel sorry for myself as now I know what I must do. I have to figure out what I am going to do to get myself as healthy as possible and minimize the pain I have in my knee. Along with my new best friend, the orthopedist, we will embark on a journey to restore health to my knee.

Are you out of shape physically or mentally? Have you noticed that somewhere the older you has lost its resemblance to the you of yesteryear? I believe that it is never too late to re-start and re-charge ourselves to become healthy and vibrant. At this very moment I may not be able to jump on the treadmill and prepare for my next 5K, but I can start to take better care of myself. Eating better will be top on my list and begin immediately. Taking vitamins and putting more calcium into my body is a must.

And while these are all things that will benefit my physical self I believe that rejuvenating my emotional self is just as important. I have just returned from a week of summer camp where I teach Bible study lessons to summer resident campers. While away at camp I have very little access to the outside world in the form of internet and television. (I do have cell service.) At first I feel as if I am completely cut off and will be totally lost for the week, but soon realize that my emotional self needs this break. One afternoon in the middle of the week I took a book and a drink to the front porch of my cabin and read for over an hour. As I read I would find myself looking up to watch the occasion squirrel hop through the woods or witness two birds playing under the trees in the fallen leaves. At night there are no street lights and all you can hear is the tree frogs, crickets and the train whistle as it blows by once in a while. I find myself at peace and not missing my electronic world so much.

Now that I am home I am going to attempt to keep myself occupied more with things that are nourishing to my physical and emotional self. What is it that is getting in the way of your physical and emotional health? Whatever it is I encourage you to re-evaluate those things, determine what is necessary and what is not and then focus on what is necessary to bring your life fulfillment. For me, I am going to focus on health and positivity and quickly eliminate the things that tend to drag me down. We have one life to live; we need to live it and live it well.

Peace.

Karla

Check out all of Karla’s Korner articles here.

Also, please visit Karla’s Lifetime Moms page and read her articles.