Thoughts on Accomplishments

Yesterday I was at a baby shower with a bunch of women who are a good deal older than I am. Many of them are grandmothers already, and the shower was for one woman's daughter. All these women take my step aerobics class. Every week they impress me that they're still doing step as they approach their 60s or even 70s, and the class is not easy. I hope I'm like them when and if I become a grandma some day. When talk at the shower turned to strollers, someone pointed out how I run with my jogger (which I don't do much anymore as my youngest is almost 4), and they were so amazed I could do that. I think what they do is far more impressive, but I guess it's all relative.

If you ever want some real motivation by a super fit older woman, Google Morjorie Newlin. Evidently she's done the whole talk show circuit, but if you missed her like I did, she's an 87-year-old bodybuilding champion. She started lifting weights when she was 72 so she could carry home a big bag of kitty litter without help. One of her interviews ends with this quote:

Linda: That’s some accomplishment. I bet people ask you all the time, how do you stay so young?

Morjorie: I can’t do anything to be young, I don’t wanna be young. I’ve been young. I feel good just the way I am.

Morjorie has joined Sister Madonna Buder (she's a nun in her 70s who does Ironman triathlons) as my inspirations. I hope I can keep up their attitudes as I go through life. One more quote, from Pure and Simple Yoga by Eoin Finn:

It's hard, yes, but the future you thanks the present you.