Not much in life is forever, but it’s the optimal word here when talking about exercise and getting old. I’m far from society standards of what being old looks and feels like, but after a recent trip to the dentist where I was presented with the decision to have a tooth pulled, I feel my steak dinners are eclipsing. I’m wouldn’t go cliche on you and say I’m feeling old. I’ll just admit it’s evident I’m starting to fall apart.
Some are falling apart faster and greeting that fact by playing harder. I was in the sauna last Friday at the JCC when an older gentleman dressed in tennis whites entered the cedar-lined room. He had to be in the late 70’s or possibly early 80’s. We struck up a conversation about sports. He told he had played a good game of tennis that very morning but it was very hard on his body. He spoke in cheerful tones.
“I never really got lap-swimming down,” he told me.
“I didn’t pick up side-breathing or swimming laps until I was out of college,” I told him. “I always loved sports, and picking up new sports, but I can tell you learning to breath correctly was not easy for me.”
“Well, you’re lucky,” he said, and I knew a bit of wisdom was going to follow. “Swimming is an exercise you do for the rest of your life. You can do it forever. Not like tennis.”
He’s right. When this gentleman can no longer scurry around on the court, he’s going to have to give it up. He’s going to have to take to the water for it’s low-impact and healing benefits.
I consider swimmers to be very lucky people. We can do it forever.
