Aging: Stiff body, flexible mind?

As people get older, their limbs get much stiffer and for skiers it can be hard to bend over to put on and take off ski boots, not to mention exerting sufficient force to be able to buckle up, at least for me. 

Everything seems to become more difficult. From picking up skis on the ground after skiing and of course getting back up after falling? Past the magic age of 70 it can become an impossible task and many a septuagenarian will cho0se to release from the ski bindings (if they can) before they attempt to raise their old body up. That’s the orthopedic and very physical aspect of aging as it affects skiers. In truth, there isn’t much we can do about it except trying to do some stretching and flexing to slow the damage down. 

Then there’s also our minds that aren’t exempt too from stiffening up, and there, I see more opportunities, as keeping flexible and fluid thoughts as we age requires us to focus some key strategies, like engaging in learning new techniques, like ski carving, taking more challenging runs, still skiing bumps now and then, albeit more slowly. 

 We can also try some new equipment with shorter and wider skis, safer accessories like exchanging a flimsy wool hat for a warm and comfortable helmet, try to stop less often on easy runs, and so on. We also need to keep skiing with younger folks, not pass an invitation to ski with junior family numbers, visit a snow park for beginners and ride a few rolling bumps here and there to keep our brains engaged and adaptable. 

Also, travel to an unknown ski resort and figure out its network of ski runs and lifts to experience something totally new. Obviously, keeping a positive mindset, with an optimistic outlook, a sense of curiosity and an openness to do things we have never done before that may benefit both our physical and mental well-being. 

Appreciate fully what we still can do and by incorporating these simple strategies into our remaining ski lives, we’ll promote mental flexibility, improve cognitive function, and maintain a sharp and adaptable mind as years pile on…