The Four Life Things I Changed Now That I'm In My Upper Sixties

I was thinking about how I've changed over the years. Part of me says I haven't changed a bit. While my soulful self tells me a lot has changed.

I am 67 now. And I can no longer deny it; I'm getting old. But no reason to let age stand in my way. I still work, maintain both career and personal relevancy, exercise, eat, drink, and overall good health. 

But I am doing things now that put me in the senior category. As Seniors, aren't we entitled to a bit of eccentricity, comfort, and stretching the envelope?

I took a few minutes to figure out what I'm doing now that I didn't do twenty years ago. The list is pretty intense; thus, I've reduced it to four things I'd like to share:

My Sleep Habits

I sleep in a recliner, and I'm proud of it. As radical as this sounds, several people do this. There are also many manufacturers of Sleep Recliners. 

A few months after my wife passed away, I redid the master bedroom, turning it into a man cave and office. I didn't need a king-sized bed anymore. 

Besides, the dogs loved our mattress. I tried to break them from sleeping on it, but they thought that was a game. They are good dogs, but after 45 years of sharing a bed with my wife, it didn't seem proper sleeping with my dogs after she passed. So I got rid of the mattress and took apart the frame. The dogs now have doggie beds to use. 

Remarkably, the few problems I had with sleep apnea, gastric reflux, and back pains immediately disappeared when I settled into my recliner. 

My Happy Feet with no Socks

I don't wear socks anymore; my feet are comfortable without them.

The shoes I wear are breathable, so my feet don't smell. The older I got, the harder it became to put socks on. As I am no longer obligated to be business casual, from a polo shirt to shoes, I haven't had to dress up with the obligatory pair of black shoes and socks. Instead, my inventory of shoes is beat-up tennis shoes, flippies, and sandals. My feet are happy. 

Speaking of Feet

The third thing I do is every two months; I get a 'manly' pedicure at one of the local nail salons. I would never have done this in my twenties. 

As I've aged, I have difficulty reaching my toes. Thus I outsource my toe hygiene. The salon I go to has 25 wide-screen TVs, a full bar, and deer heads on the wall. If it didn't smell like acetone, one would think it was a sports bar. 

Last But Not Least

I quickly realized there was no way I could eat enough fruits and vegetables during a day to get the recommended amount of fiber. I gave in and turned to fiber supplements. I keep a bottle of Fiber Supplements on my bathroom counter, and they work well. My Doctor has no problem with it. 

Lifestyle Changes as Honorable Mentions:

• I wake up at 4 am feeling refreshed, but I'm usually asleep by 9 pm. 
• I enjoy a quick afternoon nap at 2 pm. 
• I don't consume as much alcohol as I used to, opting more for taste than volume. 
• I devour news reports multiple times throughout the day. 
• As much as I love technology, I still can't figure out what Minecraft is all about. 

• Nothing beats spending a few hours a week listening to music from the sixties and seventies. 
• I enjoy eating dinner at 5 pm. Why not? I eat breakfast at 5 am, lunch at 11:30 am, light snacks at 2:30; I'm hungry at 5 pm. 
• I have a walking stick I use occasionally. Primarily to assist when my sciatica nerve problems kick in. 
• I avoid big crowds, crazy traffic jams, and long drives without knowing where to stop for the restroom. 
• I shave hair off my ears. 

I don't miss my old ways; I do things now to help me avoid serious medical problems, stay out of harm's way, and allow me to be comfortable. 

It helps to look at each day as a new adventure to appreciate.