I’ve been walking around for the past few weeks with my arm in a sling, which is not terribly comfortable when you consider the unprecedented heat and humidity and the little rivers of sweat that run down my arm each time I step outside. On a 60-year-old, it’s a sad looking accessory, this sling thing, especially when paired with a cute linen dress, and the whole cross-body bag look has me feeling like a tangled mess.
However, after a few weeks I have found that there are a few advantages to being down one appendage, like when you get to preboard for a flight, and some nice, young gentlemen helps to stow your carry-on in the overhead bin. That was nice.
I think the best part, though, is when people ask me what I did to injure myself, and I proudly state that I had a paddleboarding accident.
Instantly, I get a nod of approval over the idea that someone my age would do something so adventurous. I soak it in. I let them think I was navigating some treacherous ocean currents. I feel bold and daring and a little proud of myself for this nylon encrusted badge of honor.
But the truth is that, while I was technically on the paddleboard, I was about six minutes into my first lesson and only about 8” from the dock. The injury occurred went I fell backward into the water and somehow managed to tear my bicep muscles and rotator cuff—in water.
Let me repeat that. I hit water—possibly the softest landing outside of a pile of, I don’t know, AIR. And now I’m looking at months of rehab and the likelihood of surgery if I “fail physical therapy” (my doctor’s words.)
But all of this is to say that I don’t regret it for a minute, and I fully plan to be back on the paddleboard next summer to complete the second half of my first lesson. I’ve wanted to learn the sport for several years, and I’m not letting an accident out of the starting gate keep me from my dream of gliding across the still water (in completely dry clothes) as the sun sets across the lake.
I know that as we age, it gets harder to heal from life’s physical mishaps, but honestly, I’d rather be out there trying something new than worrying about a long line of “what ifs.”
So, what is it that your midlife self has wanted to try but have discounted because of concerns about being out of shape, overweight, or just not athletic? Perhaps you’ve watched your friends skip off to pickleball but think it’s not for you because you were terrible at tennis. Or maybe you’d like to join a walking club, but you fear you’ll be the anchor bringing up the rear.
I’m not an athlete by any stretch (obviously,) but I love the feeling of asking my body to move in a different way. And there are many, many ways to move into trying a new sport with stretching exercises, skills coaching, and group lessons that offer a slow pace and plenty of sideline encouragement.
I’ve read more than once that it’s important to challenge our brains as we age—thus the popularity of games like Sudoku and Wordle and the push to learn a new language or take up an instrument late in life.
For me, I’m learning to become ambidextrous! And maybe next year I’ll master the paddleboard.
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Hell Yeah!
Check out some ideas for exploration and expansion. I do not endorse these businesses and organizations, nor do I receive compensation from them.
Planning on trying a new sport or just looking to be a bit more active outside? Don’t forget about sun protection. Clothing brands like Coolibar, REI, and Land’s End offer stylish, wearable, functional options to keep you comfortable and protected.
And check out this article from our friends over at AARP on the benefits of getting active at any age along with guidelines for getting started.
Let's talk about it!
What sport or activity have you started later in life? What inspired you and what keeps you motivated?
What’s the best way to reframe old thoughts and worries to allow freedom to experiment with the new and different?
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