‘Good, better, best.
Never let them rest
Until your good is better
And your better is best!’

Surprisingly, I have been thinking about this little rhyme in relation to getting older. In observing friends, mentors really, it appears that those who enjoy activities well into their golden years do not ‘rest’ at what they have already accomplished. Instead they keep pushing to keep moving, to keep physical, as best as they can, within the physical limits of their bodies.

Ten years ago I felt proud because I could hike 3 miles! What a hoot! Three miles and I thought that that was SOMETHING! Now that I am older, move a little slower, and creak occasionally like an old stair, I can do 4 times as many miles as that on any given day. All because I joined our club, participated and wanted to keep up.

If I had rested on my laurels, thinking that I had achieved my ‘best’, I would have missed out on a lot of wonderful experiences.

Blisters, aching muscles, leg cramps are just obstacles to deal with. It is easier to sit at home thinking ‘I’m past the age where I could do this.’ But with a little training, a little extra effort, most of us can grow our fitness levels. Maybe it is as little as growing from a one mile walk to a two mile walk. Whatever your life circumstances are, look to see if there is an area you can improve by pushing yourself just a little bit more. Don’t be foolish and push too hard and too fast. That causes injuries! If you have medical issues please be aware of what is safe for you to do! There are good books, DVDs, gyms, classes, etc to help those who want guidance and instruction. Take advantage of what you can. I think it was Vince Lombardo who said something like, “Inches make champions.” A few extra inches of walking/paddling/biking/skiing each day add up in the long run. (No pun intended!)