Use It or Lose It

Alas, at long last I may have arrived at the Use It or Lose It Stage of Life … and I am choosing Door Number 1. This might not have happened had I not recently taken up horseback riding… and then taken to it like a Comanche. In a couple months I am going on the world’s longest endurance ride – 700 kms in 10 days – in Mongolia – and it’s for charity! Perfect.

Bottom Line: I HAVE TO GET IN SHAPE… and I never really have had to “get in shape” before – because due to genetics and a fortunate fun-filled life I am in pretty good shape – but not good enough , say I! And so says my knee – which acted out a few months ago – which has by necessity inspired this whole Use It or Lose It Health kick; and thus, brought about the ‘aha moment’ not so subtly shouting: “You better Use or Lose It, Honeybun,” – which sucks on a variety of levels, particularly given my new “Hi Ho Silver” persona.

Meanwhile, having pondered for several years the bigger ‘Use It or Lose It’ picture of aging, I too have a theory. I am 67, own a small beachy hotel in Costa Rica, and feel like I am about 27 – at least in my mind. LOL. Nevertheless, I have been subjected to way too many people blithely asserting that they are no longer capable of much as their bodies and brains are getting older and becoming less agile. They believe their own BS, and pawn off their misinformed opinions as a fait du complet… : they “can’t remember because they are getting older;” they “can’t learn a language, learn to play the piano, or learn any other skill like they could have when they were a child… because they are getting older;” they “can’t stay in shape or do a somersault anymore because they are getting older (and often chubbier).” Because age, not misinformation nor indolence, is dictating their gloomy states of mind, there is nothing they can do about it. They give up on the oh-so-sexy brain, and its elegant neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to adapt and change its structure and function throughout life in response to experiences, learning, and even injury). They give up on the juicy part of life – the learning, the participating, the eagerness of acquiring new skills – surrendering (as a matter of science) to the call of Netflix on the sofa, with Cheetos on the side. And if that isn’t enough of a shame, they urge others to do the same: “It’s a done deal; you ain’t what you used to be!”

Hah! Meanwhile, I occasionally bite my tongue, and continue to hone my theory on this BS.

My theory:

When I wanted my kids to learn piano, I found them an excellent teacher and made them sit at the piano and practice one hour a day. No buts about it. I was a piano Nazi… and they learned to play the piano – beautifully! (It was a life lesson; it blew my mind to see the beauty of the human body and mind working harmoniously, how fast a human being could become so skilled at something – when they put the time in.)

When we wanted our kids to learn a language, or math, or science – we sent them to school and required them to pay attention and listen and study, do their homework and take big tests… And bring home good grades! Lo and behold …. they learned! We required them to put the time in.

But, slackers that so many of us become as we age, we no longer demand discipline of ourselves, to practice, to study; we choose to not put the time in. We don’t require of ourselves what we required of our kids, nor of ourselves when we were in college, or highschool, or even 5th grade math. Nope, we don’t have to do anything we don’t want to do anymore – and we particularly don’t have to do it becase we can’t:  we are aging and actually as a matter of science can no longer master new skills nor maintain thsoe that we have.

I posit that if we did in fact put the time in, we would become remarkably good at whatever we chose. (I attended medical school for a bit during Covid – it was great – I even made the honor roll!) I posit that the human brain and body are so cunningly crafted that we can accomplish amazing tasks regardless of age. I don’t believe that our brains are going down hill in our 60s or 70s (excepting particular medical issues, i.e. Alzheimer’s). Yes many people are convinced that they are going down hill, which results in them letting themselves go down hill, and thereby create their own dismal destiny … while doing their best to urge others to follow them down this disastrous, self-fulfilling mountain.

Use It or Lose It!

Gotta go. I’m off to do some sit-ups.

Donations for the Gobi Gallop (the World’s Longest Endurance Ride accepted here: https://www.veloofoundation.com/lauren-cleavers-gg-fundraising-page.html