Day Three Of The New Year, And I’m Not Off To A Good Start
But I will be soon. With Sydney’s race walker Heather Lee as my guiding light, the world truly is my oyster…
I say I’m not off to a good start, simply because my eyes are streaming, my throat hurts, and the head cold I thought I was experiencing yesterday, is now a full-blown infection.
Due thanks to the woman who served me at the news agency two days ago. I should have exited the shop when I saw her cough violently with no thought of covering her mouth.
I should have, but I didn’t.
So this has resulted in a poor start to the New Year. Well, that’s my excuse for what it’s worth. I should be counting my luck that I can’t remember when I was last sick.
Let me ask you a question.
What do you think will you be doing when you are in your nineties?
And right now, does the thought of someone in their nineties, show up as a degenerate, one who is not able to do so much physical exercise?
In that case, think again. I have news for you.
The two people I am going to talk about are smart, active, and involved people who would put many, maybe most of us to shame.
To be honest, I don’t know too many who are privileged to live that long, but I suspect, it is because I haven’t opened my eyes to discover them.
But here on Medium, where I find so many impressive writers, I also met my wonderful friend James Frank Sanders.
Not only knows does he know his way around Medium, but he has also learned so many technical skills as well, and writes entertaining stories about his life experiences, all at the age of ninety-six!
James Frank Sanders knows how to look after himself. He’s a busy man, and exercise is factored in at his retirement home, as well as dining on rib-eye steaks when he goes out to eat with his sons. But he also selects good food from his daily menu at the nursing home.
All good so far, but I wonder, would he be interested in competitive sports? Maybe when he reads the story of Heather Lee, the heat might be on.
Heather Lee is an Australian woman
She is a little younger than James. At ninety-five she is heavily engaged in race-walking, something she has done for over twenty years and has no plans to retire from.
And why would you, when you have earned nine world records in race-walking, something she began after the death of her husband?
Over the years she has won so many race-walks and beaten so many women much younger than she is.
She is truly amazing!
She states that she is running out of people in her age group to compete against, but given that she is fitter than most, perhaps knowing that she is fitter than the average retiree, and many not retired, I doubt she has anything to worry about.
I could list so many of her achievements, but you can find Heather’s remarkable story here.
So why does Heather stand head and shoulders above most older women?
She will attest to some simple things:
- keeping very active
- eating well…everything in moderation, and
- enjoying a good lifestyle
One thing she enjoys about still being incredibly fit and active is that she can stay in her own home and look after herself.
What great thinking! There’s a message for all of us here.
Of course, she knows that to some extent Lady Luck has shone a light on her, but at the same time, the determination she displays is all hers.
Kudos to you, Heather.
And even with her demanding physical schedule, Heather is highly-involved in raising money for notable charities, including cancer research.
Despite his never having smoked, her husband died of lung cancer.
So, Heather Lee, and James Sanders, I have to tell you, you are both my inspiration for this New Year.
In another day or so I hope to be pounding the road, as you do Heather, and who knows, I may well become a competitor.
I will also probably need a rather large element of luck!
And now for something a little different. Adrienne Beaumont is single but open to meeting her ideal man. If any of you knows a single, handsome, available male, with no great character failings, and still relatively in shape, you can reach her through her story below.
I know I am still lurking beneath a rock in many things, but I didn’t know an anti-bucket list was a thing. But if Annie Trevaskis says it’s so, who am I to counter it?
And if you are stuck on some interesting images for your post AI to the rescue. Samuele has you covered.
