Where does motivation come from?
By Charles P. Eberson
Senior Moments
For those of us of advancing age, there is an endless selection of books, magazines, podcasts, YouTube channels, etc. available to ostensibly help guide us gracefully through the “Golden Years.” Unfortunately, some of the information can be conflicting and suspect, perhaps driven by sponsorship, grants, “likes” or other means of monetizing.
Valuable, credible data on aging is available if you do your due diligence. In addition to gathering such information, I also value the experience of actual face-to-face conversations. While vacationing in a 55-and-over community, I have become friendly with a few septuagenarians, octogenarians and even a couple nonagenarians.
Exposure to these wonderful people is enlightening, encouraging and most importantly, motivating. One of my favorite people is Marty. Marty is around 90, and almost daily enters the pool area with his signature quick walk and exaggerated swinging of the arms.
He greets my wife with a peck on the cheek. I give the Navy veteran a salute, which he returns with a snap to attention. Marty’s schedule is a couple hours of boisterous shuffleboard to which his comment of “very nice” is heard across the pool area. Shuffleboard is followed by a couple of hours of exercising in the pool and soaking in the large outdoor Jacuzzi.
I asked him his formula for aging so well. He shrugs and says he keeps moving, and has a shot or two of gin with cranberry juice every night. My takeaway is that I am not drinking nearly enough. He said genetics is also important.
Then there is Herbie. Herbie is a sweet 92 year old. When he heard my wife and I like to do crossword puzzles, Herbie brought a full shopping bag of them to the pool.
Herbie has had more medical procedures than the word count in this column would permit, but he comes to the pool area regularly to swim, socialize, sunbathe and play Cribbage – a card game into which I am trying not to be assimilated.
He recently came out of the pool saying he might have to start taking it a bit easier after he swam the length of the pool without taking a breath. Take a couple breaths, Herbie!
Moishe, (Murray) just turned 80. Moishe is an Israeli Army veteran and was an international soccer phenom. He can be seen taking a brisk walk every morning, wearing a color-coordinated t-shirt, shorts and baseball hat. Moishe also plays pickleball three times a week with a competitive fervor. He always greets me with a strong handshake and a kiss on the cheek for my wife. Why is everyone kissing my wife?
Going to the gym used to be about building muscle and getting stronger. Now it is about not losing strength and muscle. I must admit, sometimes I get a bit too comfortable when it comes to being motivated to go to the gym, and getting there can be more difficult than the actual working out. But once I arrive, I see the same people are there on a regular basis, and these people are certainly more compromised than I am.
One man has an artificial leg and the other leg wrapped with an ACE bandage. A woman walks in with a walker and sways from side to side like she is on a rolling ship. She climbs onto a stationary bike and rides it for a half hour.
Another man, certainly in advancing years, has sweated through his shirt and is muscled like a braided rope. A similar scenario repeats itself on a regular basis, forcing me to do a little self-reflection.
Where does motivation come from? It is internal, external or a little of both?
I guess it depends on the individual, but when I think of these people who also probably don’t feel much like leaving the comfort of their home, it gives me the added boost I need on some days to join them. All I have left to do now is keep them from kissing my wife.
Charles Eberson has been in the newspaper business for over 25 years. He has worked as a writer, advertising executive, circulation manager and photographer. His photography can be viewed at charles-eberson.fineartamerica.com
