Old Coastie
Supportive Member
Six weeks ago I tore an old service injury to my back. This has been something I have dealt with for forty years, off and on. Usually, a few days of rest and all is well.
This time was much different. I helped a buddy load wood, then a week later, helped Mrs. Coastie with her mother. This time, I actually felt it tear. The aftermath was akin to professional torture.
I haven't worked in a month and a half. My back is knitting steadily, but I am as weak as a boy and it will not take much to return to square one.
Tomorrow I will attempt a cleaning while wearing a rigid back brace. I will then rest a day, then do a job, rest and then Friday, another. Each day is going to be hazardous.
Why attempt to work? Because obviously, I need the income. But additionally, at 60 there is an inherent problem with idleness. Psychologically it is destructive, but physically one loses ground at an alarming rate. I can feel myself softening, which will make recovery just that much more difficult. You might say I have to risk pushing myself to avoid losing the ability to work.
Why would I share all this with you penguinos? Simple: like a lot of you younger men, I have always been as tough as hickory. The way I compensated for aging was to outwork my fellows, pushing longer and more unrelentingly than they would. Sound like you?
Here is what you need to know: All that stuff about proper back care like lifting, proper exercise and pacing yourself is all true. You will age faster than you now believe and you will learn humility sooner than you can possibly imagine. You simply must take care of yourself to postpone that day and you had better be stashing around 20% of your income prudently so you'll have money.
I get a modest pension and could get by. That was my strategy and I am glad I did it.
However, working is part of who I am. In order to do that I now must backtrack, scale down and acommodate things that happened in 1977. What you need to understand is that what you do every d*mned day is going to affect what you can do later. Please listen and take this to heart.
End of sermon.
This time was much different. I helped a buddy load wood, then a week later, helped Mrs. Coastie with her mother. This time, I actually felt it tear. The aftermath was akin to professional torture.
I haven't worked in a month and a half. My back is knitting steadily, but I am as weak as a boy and it will not take much to return to square one.
Tomorrow I will attempt a cleaning while wearing a rigid back brace. I will then rest a day, then do a job, rest and then Friday, another. Each day is going to be hazardous.
Why attempt to work? Because obviously, I need the income. But additionally, at 60 there is an inherent problem with idleness. Psychologically it is destructive, but physically one loses ground at an alarming rate. I can feel myself softening, which will make recovery just that much more difficult. You might say I have to risk pushing myself to avoid losing the ability to work.
Why would I share all this with you penguinos? Simple: like a lot of you younger men, I have always been as tough as hickory. The way I compensated for aging was to outwork my fellows, pushing longer and more unrelentingly than they would. Sound like you?
Here is what you need to know: All that stuff about proper back care like lifting, proper exercise and pacing yourself is all true. You will age faster than you now believe and you will learn humility sooner than you can possibly imagine. You simply must take care of yourself to postpone that day and you had better be stashing around 20% of your income prudently so you'll have money.
I get a modest pension and could get by. That was my strategy and I am glad I did it.
However, working is part of who I am. In order to do that I now must backtrack, scale down and acommodate things that happened in 1977. What you need to understand is that what you do every d*mned day is going to affect what you can do later. Please listen and take this to heart.
End of sermon.
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