Retirement came on an familiar date this year my 65th birthday. This day was not planned it just happened. No one advised me to do so nor did anyone suggest. I just thought it would be sort of cool, and it was my way to celebrate growing older.
My friends gave lots of accolades and congratulations. Social media posts were greatly appreciated. Birthday retirement party at work was very fun, Angelo’s was terrific and Gatlinburg on Saturday was memorable. I was able to ride my favorite chair lift, walk the streets of historic Gatlinburg, and eat at a nice restaurant in Gatlinburg with my wife. Latter that night while walking the streets of Gatlinburg, the words whispered in my ear explaining how fortunate and blessed I was to have a birthday. Possibly things could change in the future, but for now it was a great day.
All of the celebrations that occur at birthday parties are reflections that we are getting older. This doesn’t mean that we are withering away, it means that our biological clock is ticking. Some see it as a huge negative. Some get severely depressed. Others look forward to the final destination.
Sometimes we shy away from making friends with older folks. Possibly walk on the other side of the street, look upward, or glance at the skyline. Shy away from community centers, and refrain to visit seniors. Maybe it reminds us how short life is, and how temporary happiness can be.
We like to look for perfection. The chase for something in the the past is wanted. A new package, Christmas or birthday gift. That’s what I want! something unattainable. If it doesn’t fit I can take it back. If it doesn’t groove just move on.
We often gravitate towards physical appearance as fulfillment. Rarely do we see age advancement as success. The travel towards advancement is measured by external not introspection.
However, there is a great abundance of gold in persons who accumulate emotional memories. Empathy held inside these folks create such a strong desire to live. They live for those who have not, and for those who are no longer with us.
The older we get, it seems like we collect more emotional memories. This gives us reason and purpose to carry on. Gives us meaning with aspirations to live for something fresh and new. To create attributes from ourselves as gifts for others.
Getting older means that we can have thoughts of empathy. Sometimes these feelings cause us to accomplish great things. To climb high mountains, to ride intently, and to fly higher. I can remember well on a scheduled bicycle ride with my friends at the Cumberland Gap Park, I heard someone say, today we can ride for my cousin who is sick. I had the thought that every ride was memorial. I can dedicate my efforts to be for those who can not ride. In memory of those who have passed. A cause, a charitable thought that gives us purpose.
I started to think of ways that I could accomplish memorial weight loss riding and running fitness. As a result, I came up with a phrase that inspired my efforts.
Ride for those who can’t. Inspire those who can. Maybe you can use the philosophy to 🚴
Memorial Fitness 