17.6mi

I gave Mom a call today to wish her a Happy Mother’s Day — hope it was a great one!

She’s been following my trials and tribulation lately with me trying to kayak. I think her comment was something like “Aren’t you getting old for that adventure-type stuff?” Hmmm.

If you’d asked me yesterday, I might’ve answered “yes” to that question. I was pretty down about my performance on the lake. However, to give myself credit, I did get out there, the conditions were really above my skill level, and I wasn’t handed the best of boats for me to try handling.

In fact, I think one of the contributing factors to my tipping over is that my center of gravity lies above the waistline, instead of below it like most folks. That’s something I can fix, should fix, and will fix.

However, that still doesn’t answer the question of age. Is 42 too old? I’d like to think not. I really don’t wanna give up what I think I’m discovering about myself. I’m finding some stamina, some willpower not to quit when something’s physically hard, and I’m genuinely feeling good. Friday night, after getting a new seat for my bike, I told Becky that I’m becoming the person I’ve been wanting to become. Self-image is as an important a thing as there is, and I’m finally starting to live mine.
Dad used to toss around a couple of phrases that I think fit my state of mind about these shenanigans I’m putting myself through:

• “You’re only as old as you feel, and you’re not old until you quit feeling.”
• “It’s not the age, it’s the mileage.”

I’d like to think I still have some mileage and some feeling left in tank! 🙂