My diminished mobility has been with me for 2 years. I exercise on a regular basis in the hope one day my condition will improve. In reality of course, when you are on the wrong side of ninety it is a big ask. However I did have an unexpected boost from an unusual quarter recently.
We all witness the crazy promises on YouTube that guarantee everything under the sun and financial wealth to eternity. I was attracted to one article that seemed even more bizarre. A bloke who specialises in fitness for the over fifties. He was prescribing the need for over fifties to walk backwards.
‘ Huh! Surely not, as a man playing tennis once said.
’You can’t be serious!’ .
But yep, the doctor says it’s very good for us with many benefits to the brain and body.
Now, I thought this was a bit of nonsense, but he appeared to be a doctor he was wearing a white coat. So… one afternoon when the wife was out shopping I thought I’d give it a go, just for fun, you understand. At this point I should warn you need to be extra careful. Make sure you have taken all the precautions to avoid an accident. A pair of eyes in the back of your head will give you a good head start.
After clearing a space in the reception room I stood by the window and took a deep breath prepared for my advance into the unknown. For a moment I stood procrastinating thinking ‘what the hell am I doing,’ I’ll do it tomorrow.
There was a need for encouragement from some quarter to get me started. Unfortunately there was none available so I developed a DIY strategy by yelling at myself.
“Go on Gordon – you can do it mate – go-go!’
So I did.
After the initial feeling of insecurity and a few wobbly steps I gradually became more calm and confident. More surprisingly, I started to enjoy it. Obviously you do have to be extra careful. I certainly wouldn’t try it on the public highway. There are enough hazards without pirouetting around a pile of dog shit or backing into some nut wielding an axe.
I’ve been doing this for a couple of weeks now and have to admit to the unexpected improvement. My balance is better, I feel more confident, I’ve stopped using my walking stick, (within the flat anyway.) I seem to have more stamina. Now this may be just a blip, coincidence, call it what you will. I’m not in the business of endorsing products but I am delighted to embrace any personal improvement, however small.
Could you ever imagine walking backwards would be the best way forward.
To think maybe this is where I’ve been going wrong all these years.I should have taken more backward steps.The way this country is heading, we should start shunting backwards to the 1950’s .We didn’t have so many problems then that I can recall. I well remember when the media used to tell us how the Russians were so oppressed and frightened to speak outwardly for fear of being thrown into prison. It’s very much like that over here now. A man gets 2 years in jail for sticking posters on lamp posts- it’s unbelievable!.Something to do with hate crime. Hate is a natural human emotion like love,depression,sorrow and joy, it is one item in the biological bag of emotions we are born with. It is the tool bag we use every day in our journey of life.It has nothing to do with the law. I hate baked beans, but Heinz wouldn’t dream of prosecuting me, ‘Would they?’
The establishment has always used the law as a weapon and moneypot to protect the upper elites interest. Brainwashing by the media is now so blatant and getting worse by the day. I’m sure most people from my era feel the same. The leader of Argentina has the right idea with his chainsaw. That’s what we need in this country, someone with the guts to address the real problems facing our towns and cities.Also the ballooning waste and incompetence of the establishment.
There are times when I feel perhaps, I’m on the Brighter side of 90.