moving forward

Mid-life funk

Movin' it with Michelle

I’ve been a little MIA….I don’t like to write, unless it’s something positive, but…

I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately – ever since my birthday, really. While some say how wonderful aging is, how they’ve embraced their grey hair, deep wrinkles, weight gain, and sagging skin, me…well, not so much. (Thankfully I DO love the person I’ve become on the inside, so there’s that!!!!!)

I am at a place in my life now where I can say more likely than not, that my life is more than half over. On average, a healthy American lives until around the age of 77…that means I have (if I am lucky), 30 years to go…and that’s if I am lucky. Why on earth am I looking SOOO far ahead in the future? GAH, slap me now. No please, really….slap me!

Because it really isn’t that far off…and there is so much I still want to see and do in my life. But I am at the point where I wonder, WILL there be time? IS it getting to be too late? Hard to say…really. Time sure really does fly.

Everyone says, “Take that trip” or “Eat that cake” but man, I dunno…at the age of 47 I am still paying for my graduate degree, and now paying for my oldest while she’s taking classes up north. We are doing our best to pay cash for her classes/books so she won’t be in the same boat we are. Thankfully my husband paid his loans off a few years ago, but I’ve still got 2 more years to go. SOOOOO close, LOL.

And if I look at a piece of cake, I gain 5 lbs., so that’s a hard NO.

23-memes-about-feelin-old-af-oNP

I do try to make the very best of my time here on earth, though. To make up for the lack of traveling or home improvements,  we do our best to take as many trips to the Beach and Disney as we can and make as many memories as possible. I have become more aware of how short life is, having lost my dog last year and a near death experience with my Dad last year. So I’ve decided to make more of an effort to be present and show those that I care about, how  much I love them. That could be a phone call, a text, a simple FB message…but I do it, and as often as possible.

I know, I know…such a morbid post. But it’s been festering inside of me for almost 3 weeks, and I have hope that by throwing it out there to the universe, that it will help me let go of the dread of aging so much. I suppose I am just not where I’d hoped I’d be at this stage in my life…but I know I’ll get there, eventually. I am just blessed that I have what I have, and I need to remind myself of that every day. I’ve got a great family, a couple of close friends, my health (knock on wood), a career, and we live in our dream place of sunny Florida. I am surrounded by blessings, and need to remember it!!! 🙂

So it’s out there, and now I am going to move past it and take my own advice and “Keep Movin’ Forward.”

SOOOOO…goals for this year to help get out of my funk are:

  1. Sign up for a few races
  2. Be consistent with my workouts – 2-4 times per week
  3. Be present
  4. Pick one thing each day I am thankful for and write it down
  5. Try to stop stressing over weight and wrinkles (that’s a tough one-LOL)

How do you get yourself out of a funk? Do you ever get on your own nerves, LOL? Tell me something good!!!

Cheers,

Michelle

Published by Movin' it with Michelle

My name is Michelle and I am a retired Air Force Master Sergeant. I have found a passion for running, cooking, writing, photography and all things that move my love for life! I've ran 3 full marathons, with a PR of 4:25, and 17 half marathons with a PR of 2:00:11 (yup-missed sub 2 by 11 seconds, lol). Thanks for joining me on my journey!

34 thoughts on “Mid-life funk”

  2. I think those are great goals! Hopefully they’ll help keep your mind off the negative. ❤️ — Also, I get on my own nerves all the time. 😂 Is there anyone who doesn’t? They should tell us their secret! — & usually when I’m driving myself up a wall, I workout. It works like a charm. Well, for me, at least. I know everyone is different. — Whatever works, I say! 👍

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  9. I like your list! It sounds cheesy but doing a short gratitude list each day has really helped give me a more positive outlook on life. I still get on my own nerves from time to time, usually a good hard workout helps ‘chill’ me out 😉

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  10. Oh my gosh, thank you for posting this!! There used to be a saying back in the 70s that was “life sucks and then you die.” (or more probably these days with our great medical treatment, you’ll live on and on!) I was a “health nut” worked out regularly, hiked, took bike trips with my friends and then was hit by a car.

    I thought I’d be ok, but the quality of my life went way downhill and things got worse (that was 19 years ago) over time rather than better. I can only stand for short periods and walk only blocks. It’s been like a bad joke! I felt like I’d been cheated. But we never know how much time we have or how our lives can turn, and we all will be faced with diminishing returns on our bodies if we live long enough. It just came a bit earlier for me.

    And as you know, lost my dog too and I can’t tell you the bond I had with him! I still tear up every day and it’s been three years. And I have new dog who is a scamp and an absolute A**-hat! He about killed me raising him but now he’s setting down. I hope. And I always looked young for my age but now? Oh my gosh, wait till you turn 60, lol!! I don’t even recognize myself. That’s been a hard thing for me, too!

    But inside, I’m still the same me that ever was! I’m still 19 years old. And I like me and that’s so important! My saving grace is doing just what you’re doing. I constantly set little goals and challenge myself but as you age the parameters might be different. You adapt. You do what you CAN do.

    I used to always have a sketch pad with me, now my hands shake, so I take pictures with a light camera. I always liked to cook, so I have a food blog. I can’t hike but I can take that deplorable dog of mine to the dog park. And so I’ve had to forget about things I can’t do or wished to do and am no longer able to do and focus on what I CAN do.

    And those goals and dreams become less important than you think they are. I always wanted to walk a portion of the Appalachian Trail. I know I never will, but honestly, when I’m gone that won’t matter, and probably many of the things in my life won’t either. Because the bottom line is that the time you spend with your loved ones, enjoying them, teaching them and raising them is really the most important legacy you’ll ever leave behind.

    So take that big trip if you want to, find a way to make it happen, eat that piece of cake (I know you will run it off, lol) but remember too that what you are doing and the memories you are making with your loved ones isn’t just about memories. You’re also teaching them to find joy in the present and the small things and making the best of their circumstances just like you’re making the best of yours! It sounds to me like you’re doing a bang-up job!

    I went on far longer than I meant to!!!

    Mollie

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  11. Yep volunteering, doing something to help others etc just kind of helps you get out of your own head. And honestly lately for me just taking more time for myself- I really have learned that I need some form of morning meditation be it though a run or something else helps me get centered for the day and puts some good energy into my day. I hope you get out of your funk soon girl! Yes, sign up for some fun races! I need to start filling up my calendar too 🙂 🙂

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  12. Great question. I feel I’ve been in a funk the last 2 weeks and trying to figure out how to get out of it. Not sure I have the answer but having kids keeps my busy (sometimes too busy) to stop and think about me.
    You’ve set some great goals for yourself. Me, I need to find more time for just me.

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